RLF 


MORENO'S 

Dictionary  of 

SPANISH -NAMED  CALIFORNIA 
CITIES  AND  TOWNS 


GIFT  OF 


€€ 


If  It's  Spanish,  It's  in  This  Book! 

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|MO  R  ENO'S 

I         Dictionary  of 

(SPANISH -NAMED  CALIFORNIA 
I     CITIES  AND  TOWNS 


Containing: 

The  definition  and  correct  pronunciation  of  every 
Spanish -named  City,  Town,  Village  and  Hamlet 
in  California;  the  heretofore  practically  un- 
known origin  of  the  name  of  California  and  the 
much-less  known  derivation  and  definition  of 
the  name  of  every  County  in  the  State. 


Compiled  from  the  latest  U.  S.  Postal  and  Parcel 
Zone  Guides;  California  Blue  Book;  Velazquez 
Dictionary;  Southern  Pacific  &  Union  Pacific 
Maps  and  Authentic  Sources. 


AN  ACCURATE,  READY  REFERENCE 
For  All  Schools,  Newspaper  Offices,  Etc. 

Compiled  and  Edited  By 

H.  M.  MORENO    -    San  Luis  Obispo,  Cal 


(Copyrighted  1916.) 


Foreword 


At  no  time  in  the  history  of  California  has 
the  need  for  a  Dictionary  of  this  nature  been 
so  imperative.  Never  before,  since  the  admis- 
sion of  California  into  the  Sisterhood  of  States, 
has  there  been  so  much  genuine  historic  inter- 
est manifested  in  the  quaint  names,  their  sig- 
nificance and  derivation,  and  which,  up  to 
this  time,  have  long  been  the  subject  of  much 
discussion  and  conjecture. 

In  twenty  years  of  experience  as  a  news- 
paperman in  various  lands  and  in  different 
climes,  the  author  has  been  beset  by  thousands 
of  inquiries  from  home  and  from  a  distance, 
as  to  the  proper  pronunciation,  definition  and 
derivation  of  California  Spanish  names.  So 
numerous  have  been  the  inquiries,  and  so  great 
the  renewed  interest  manifested,  more  especially 
among  visitors,  that  the  time  and  labor  ex- 
pended in  this  compilation  would  seem  justifi- 
able. 

Since  the  Panama-Pacific  International  Ex- 
position has  been  held  in  Sau  Francisco, 


357723 


4  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

now  that  the  Panama-California  Exposition  is 
in  progress  in  San  Diego,  there  appears  to  have 
been  a  very  marked  revival  of  interest  in  the 
early  names  of  California. 

Millions  of  visitors  to  the  Exposition,  extend- 
ing their  travel  to  the  southern  section  of  the 
State,  wherein  these  old  Spanish  names  are 
more  numerous  than  elsewhere,  have  left  a  trail 
of  inquiries  in  their  travels,  and  a  country- 
wide wreath  of  smiles  at  their  efforts  to  pro- 
nounce correctly  the  many  curious  names. 

Frequently,  among  the  visitors,  reference  was 
made  to  the  "San  Joe-ah-quinn"  valley.  On 
a  "  rubber-neck "  wagon  in  the  south,  a  brilliant 
Eastern  visitor  was  heard  to  make  a  reference 
to  "San  Jay-sintoe."  Undoubtedly  the  city  of 
Los  Angeles  suffered  the  most,  many  referring 
to  it  as  "Los  Angle-lees/'  "Los  Angee-lees," 
"Los  An-gay-lays,"  etc. 

Interesting  above  all,  is  the  subtle  manner 
adopted  by  the  old  Mission  Padres  in  naming 
the  towns  and  cities  after  Saints,  biblical  char- 
acters, and  events  leading  up  to  and  from  the 
birth,  life  and  crucifixion  of  the  Humble  Naz- 
arene,  with  the  object  in  view  of  keeping  these 
events  ever  fresh  in  the  minds  of  the  Neophytes 
(Indian  converts.) 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  5 

An  attempt  has  been  made  to  spell  the  Span- 
ish names  out  in  English  in  such  a  manner  that 
the  reader  will  be  enabled  to  approach  the 
Spanish  pronounciation  as  nearly  accurate  as 
possible.  To  facilitate  this  important  feature 
a  Spanish  alphabet  has  been  incorporated  in 
this  work. 

All  definitions,  derivations  and  names  which 
may  be  seen  in  this  Dictionary  are  the  same 
and  hold  good  in  whatever  State  in  the  Union 
they  have  been  used  as  names  of  cities,  etc. 
This  has  special  reference  to  all  such  names 
in  Mexico,  Lower  California,  Texas,  Arizona, 
New  Mexico,  all  the  South  American  Republics, 
and  wherever  else  the  Spaniards  have  been  in- 
strumental in  naming  cities,  towns,  or  places. 

Everything — much  time,  money  and  labor — 
devoted  to  this  compiliation,  has  been  sacrificed 
to  Accuracy.  Authorities  for  this  work  are 
the  most  authentic  to  be  hoped  for:  Velazquez, 
the  acknowledged  Noah  Webster  of  the  Span- 
ish language;  Gen.  Mariano  G.  Yallejo  and 
Prentiss  Maslin  in  the  California  Blue  Book; 
United  States  Postal  and  Parcel  Post  Guides; 
Southern  Pacific  and  Union  Pacific  Maps ;  Rail- 
road Blue  Book,  and  Irvine's  History  of  Cali- 
fornia. 


6  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

All  translations  are  from  the  Spanish  strict- 
ly. No  effort  has  been  made  to  define  or  class- 
ify coined  Spanish- American  words,  combina- 
tions, or  Indian  and  Spanish  mixtures. 

Such  words  as  "Pasadena,"  "Capitola," 
"Altadena,"  and  many  with  the  Spanish  eu- 
phony, are  not  Spanish,  but  coined  to  suit  the 
fancy  of  the  founders  of  such  communities. 

Great  care  should  be  taken  in  the  coinage 
of  Spanish- American  combinations,  lest  the 
"counterfeiters"  be  led  into  the  paths  of  the 
ridiculous,  as  in  the  case  of  those  who  are 
responsible  for  the  christening  of  a  community 
in  one  of  the  southern  counties.  Undoubtedly, 
the  intent  of  the  sponsors  for  the  new-born 
community  meant  to  lay  particular  stress  upon 
the  quality  of  ozone  in  that  section,  as  the 
place  has  been  named  "Ozena."  As  this  name 
means  in  Spanish  "fetid  ulcers  of  the  nostrils," 
the  author  took  it  upon  himself  to  omit  the 
word  and  spare  the  dignity  of  the  commun- 
ity and  its  residents. 

In  conclusion,  do  not  be  too  precipitate  with 
criticism.  You  may  know  some  Spanish  name 
(supposedly)  that  does  not  appear  in  this  book. 

Be  sure  that  the  name  is  Spanish,  and  that 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS 7 

it  is  the  name  of  a  city,  town,  village  or  ham- 
let. 

If  any  names  have  been  omitted,  it  is  be- 
cause they  are  too  remote  to  be  reached  even 
by  the  rural  free  deliveries  of  the  State,  and 
are,  therefore  "not  on  the  map." 

IMPORTANT! 

By  way  of  postscript,  remember  the  Span- 
ish "a"  is  always  "ah,"  and  is  always  pro- 
nounced like  the  "a"  in  the  English  word 
"father." 

"E"  is  always  pronounced  "eh,"  like  the 
English  "e"  in  "fed." 

"H"  is  always  silent  in  the  Spanish  lan- 
guage. 

"0"  is  always  pronounced  "oh,"  like  the 
"o"  in  the  English  word  "protect." 

Observe  these  simple  suggestions,  and  the  cor- 
rect pronunciation  of  Spanish  names  is  great- 
ly simplified. 

THE  AUTHOR. 

San  Luis  Obispo,  Cal.,  1916. 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  9 

SPANISH  ALPHABET. 

The  Spanish  alphabet  contains  twenty-seven  letters, 
exclusive  of  K  and  W,  which  are  used  only  in  foreign 
words.  It  contains,  however,  three  characters,  ch.  II, 
and  n,  which  are  regularly  regarded  as  separate  let- 
ters. Ch  (tchay)  has  been  considered  a  separate  let- 
ter since  1803.  LI  and  n  are  called  "ligatured  con- 
sonants," both  having  a  consonant  y  sound  after  the 
letter  represented.  The  alphabet  is  as  follows: 
A,  a  (ah). 

Always  pronounced  like  a  in  the  English  words 
"art"  and  "father."  B,  b  (bay). 

Pronounced  as  in  English,  although  in  some  parts 
of  Spain  it  is  confused  with  V. 

C,  c  (thay). 

When  followed  by  a,  o,  u  or  any  consonant,  sounds 
like  fc;  before  e  and  i,  it  sounds  like  th  in  "think." 

Ch,  ch  (tchay). 
Pronounced  like  ch  in  "child." 

D,  d  (day). 

Pronounced  as  in  English.  At  the  end  of  words  it 
sounds  somewhat  like  th  in  "though." 

E,  e  (ay). 

Pronounced  like  the  sound  of  a  in  the  word  "male." 

F,  f  (ay-fay). 
Pronounced  as  in  English. 

G,  g  (hay). 

Has  two  distinct  sounds;  before  a,  o,  u,  or  con- 
sonant, it  sounds  like  g  in  the  English  words  "girl" 
and  "good";  before  e  and  i,  it  sounds  like  h  in  the 
English  words  "high,"  "hay." 

H.  h,   (ah-tchay). 

Is  silent  in  the  Spanish  language,  pronounced  as  if 
no  such  h  were  there. 

I,  i  (e). 
Sounds  like  e  in  the  English  word  "evil." 

J,  j  (hoe-tan). 

Is  pronounced  like  h  in  the  English  words  "horse," 
"hall,"  "hill."  L,  1  (ai-lay). 

Pronounced  as  in  English. 


10  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

LI,  11  (ail-yay). 

Similar  sound  to  the  English  word  "William."  At 
the  beginning  of  a  word  the  first  I  is  vocalized;  the 
second  given  with  a  consonant  y  sound  following. 

M,  m  (ai-may). 
Pronounced  as  in  English. 

N,  n  (ai-nay). 
Pronounced  as  in  English. 

N,  n  (ain-yay). 

Always  pronounced  like  ni  in  the  English  words 
"pinion/'  "minion."  O,  o  (o). 

Pronounced  like  the  English  o  in  the  word  "or- 
gan," and  when  accented,  like  the  o  in  "old." 

P,  p  (pay). 
Pronounced  as  in  English. 

Q,  q  (coo). 

Pronounced  as  the  English  k  before  ue  and  ttf,  in 
all  other  instances  it  has  been  replaced  by  c. 

R,  r  (er-ay). 

When  single  is  pronounced  as  in  English;  at  the 
beginning  of  a  word  and  when  double,  it  has  a 
strong  rolling  sound.  Nearest  possible  sound:  rr — 
er'-ray.  Final  r  has  the  full  rolling  sound,  almost 
like  double  r  in  English. 

S,  s  (ai-say). 

Pronounced  like  the  English  s  in  the  words  "say," 
"simple,"  "seven."      T,  t  (tay). 
Pronounced  as  in  English 

U,  u  (oo). 

Pronounced  as  the  English  u  in  the  word  "pull"; 
it  is  silent  in  the  syllables  que,  gui,  except  when  it 
has  a  diaeresis  over  it,  thus  u.  In  the  syllables  que, 
qui,  is  always  silent. 

V,  v  (vay). 
Pronounced  as  in  English. 

X,  x  (ay-kiss). 
Has  the  sound  of  x  in  the  English  word  "flax." 

Y,  y  (e-gree-ai-gah). 
Has  the  sound  of  e  in  the  English  word  "evil." 

Z,  z  (thay-tah). 
Pronounced  like  th  in  the  English  word  "thin." 


Definitions  of  the  Spanish  Names 

of  Cities,  Towns,  Villages  and 

Hamlets  of  California 


A. 

Acampo — (Ah-cahm'-poe).  Portion  of  common 
given  to  graziers  or  herds  for  pasture. 

Adelaida — (Ah-deh-lye'-dah).  Spanish  for  Ade- 
laide; feminine  proper  name. 

Agua  Caliente — (Ah'-goo-ah  Cahl-e-en'-tay) .  Hot 
Springs;  hot  water. 

Alameda — (Ah-lah-meh'-dah).  A  grove  of  poplar 
trees;  a  public  walk. 

Alamo — (Ah'-lah-mo).     Poplar  tree. 

Albion — (Ahl-be-on')-  Ancient  Spanish  name 
given  to  England.  For  a  long  time  California 
was  known  as  "Nueva  Albion,"  meaning  in  Span- 
ish "New  England." 

Alcatraz — (Ahl-cah-trath').  Pelican;  a  sea  fish 
caught  in  India. 

Alcalde — (Ahl-cahl'-day).  Justice  of  the  Peace; 
a  police  judge. 

Alhambra — (Ahl-ahm'-bra).  Name  of  a  city  in  old 
Spain. 

Alisal — (Ahl-lee-sahl').  Clump  of  Alder  or  Elder- 
berry trees. 

Alma — (Ahl'-mah).  Soul;  spirit;  feminine  proper 
name;  human  being. 

Alta — (Ahl'-tah).  High  ground;  elevated;  emi- 
ence. 

Alta  Ix>ma — (Ahl'-tah  Loe'-mah).  Rising  ground; 
hillock;  high  mountain. 


12  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

Alturas — (Ahl-toor'-ahs).  Heights;  loftiness;  sum- 
mits. 

Alvarado — (Ahl-vah-rah'-doe).  In  honor  of  Juan 
Bautista  Alvarado,  one  of  the  last  governors  of 
California  under  Mexican  rule. 

Alviso — (Ahl-vee'-soe).  In  honor  of  Assemblyman 
Alviso  of  Alameda,  member  of  a  pioneer  family 
among  the  earliest  settlers  in  California. 

Amador — (Ah-mah-dor').  In  honor  of  Sargeant 
Pedro  Amador,  pioneer  settler  and  soldier; 
amador  also  means  a  lover;  a  sweetheart.  (See 
origin  of  counties.) 

Andrade — (Ahn-drah'-day).  So  named  in  honor  of 
the  Andrade  family,  which  settled  in  California 
in  the  early  days. 

Aptos — (Ahp'-tohs).  The  apt;  the  fit;  the  com- 
petent. 

Arabela — (Ah-rah-bell'-ah).  jArafoella;  feminine 
proper  name. 

Arena —  ( Ah-reh'-nah ) .     Sandy  locality ;    sand. 

Armada — (Ahr-mah'-dah).  The  navy;  naval  fleet; 
armada. 

Aromas — (Ah-roh'-mahs).  Aromatic  quality;  per- 
fume; fragrancy. 

Arroyo  Grande — (Ah-roy'-o  Grahn'-day).  Big 
creek;  wide  stream. 

Atascadero — (Ah-tahs-cah-deh'-roe).  A  deep  miry 
place,  in  which  horses,  carriages,  etc.,  stick 
fast;  obstruction. 

Asuncion — (Ah-soon-thee-own').  In  honor  of  the 
"Feast  of  the  Assumption,"  a  name  given  by 
the  Padres  to  commemorate  the  miraculous  as- 
cent to  heaven  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary. 

A. vila — ( Ah'-vee-lah ) .  In  honor  of  the  founder  of 
the  town,  Don  Juan  V.  Avila. 

B. 

Balboa — (Bahl-boe'-ah).  In  honor  of  the  discover- 
er of  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

Bellota — (Bell-e-o'-tah).  Acorn;  place  where  acorns 
abound. 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  13 

Bernardo — (Behr-nahr'-doe).     Bernard;  masculine 

proper  name. 
Berremla — (Behr-rehn'-dah).       Field     of     yellow 

wheat;  reindeer  doe. 
Berros — (Beh'-rohs).     Water  cresses. 
Blanco — (Blahn'-coh).      White;    hoary;    honored; 

whitish  field. 

Boca — (Boh'-cah).     Entrance;   mouth;   hole. 
Bodega — (Boh-deh'-gah).     Wine  vault;    abundant 

vintage. 
Bolinas — (Boh-lee'-nahs).     Bowlines  of  a  ship;   a 

noise  of  a  scuffle. 

Bonita — (Boh-nee'-tah).      Pretty;    graceful. 
Brea — (Bray '-ah).     Pitch;  tar;  asphaltum. 

C. 

Cajon — (Kah-hone').  Square  box;  shaped  like  a 
box. 

Calabasas — (Kah-lah-bah'-sahs).  Pumpkins;  pump- 
kin patch! 

Calieiite — (Kah-lee-n'-tay).  Hot;  warm;  sunny 
climate. 

Camarillo — (Kah-mah-reer-e-o).  In  honor  of  Juan 
Camarillo,  founder. 

Camino — (Kah-meen'-oh).     Highway;  road. 

Campo — (Kahm'-poe).     Camp;    woods;   forest. 

Campo  Seco — (Kahm'-poe  Seh'-coe).  Dry  camp; 
dry  woods;  dry  forest. 

Cantara — (Kahn'-tah-rah).  Large,  narrow-mouthed 
pitcher;  of  that  shape. 

Carbon — (Kahr-bohn').  Carbon;  coal;  where  coal 
abounds. 

Carlota — (Kahr-loh'-tah).  In  honor  of  Queen  Char- 
lotte. 

Carmel — (Kahr-mehl').  In  honor  of  "Nuestra  Se- 
nora  del  Carmen."  (The  Virgin  Mary,  Our  Lady 
of  Mt.  Carmel.) 

Carpinterla —  ( Kahr-peen-teh-ree'-ah ) .  Carpenter 
shop;  carpentry. 


14  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

Casa  Desierto — (Kah'-sah  Deh-see-ehr'-toe) .  House 

in  the  desert. 
Casa  Verdugo — (Kah'-sah  Vehr-doo'-go) .     House 

among  young  verdure;    house  of  the   Verdugo 

family. 

Cazadero — (Kah-tha-deh'-roe).     Hunting  grounds. 
Chico — (Chee'-coe).     In  honor  of  Mariano  Chico, 

one  of  the  last  of  California's  governors  under 

Mexican  rule;   the  word  also  signifies  anything 

small  or  little. 
Chiles — (Chee'-less).    Peppers,  either  red  or  green; 

chile  plantation. 
Chino — (Chee'-noe).        Curly     hair;      Chinaman; 

crispy. 
Chula    Vista. —  (Choo'-lah    Vees'-tah).      Quaint    or 

pretty  view;  chic. 
Cisco — (Thees'-coe).    Coal  dust;  broken  coal;  coal 

screenings. 
Cima — (Thee'-mah).      Uppermost   point;    summit; 

on  top. 

Colma — (Kohl'-mah).     A  fill-in;  filled;  heaped. 
Concepcion — (Kohn-thep-thee-on').      In    honor   of 

the  Immaculate  Conception  of  the  Blessed  Virgin 

Mary;   feminine  proper  name. 
Conejo — (Kohn-eh'-hoe).      Rabbit;    where  rabbits 

abound. 
Constancia —  (Kohn-stahn'-thee-ah) .        Constancy; 

immutability;   Constance,  feminine  proper  name. 
Corona — (Koh-roh'-nah).  Crown;  priest's  tonsure; 

seven-decade  rosary  of  Roman  Catholic  Church. 
Coronado — (Koh-roh-nah'-doe).     Crowned;  shaped 

like  a  crown. 
Corral  de  Tierra — (Koh-rahl'  deh  Tee-eh'-rah).  Sod 

or  soil  fence. 
Corral  de  Piedra — (Koh-rahl'  deh  Pee-eh'-drah). 

Stone  or  rock  fence. 

Corralitos — (Koh-rah-leef-toes).  Small  yards  or  cor- 
rals. 
Corte  Madera — (Cor'-tay  Mah-deh'-rah).     Timber 

court;  lumber  camp. 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  15 

Coyote — (Koh-yoe'-tay).  Common  coyote;  a  jackal. 

Crucero — (Krew-thay'-roe).  Crossing;  Cross  Bear- 
er who  carries  the  cross  before  the  archbishops 
in  procession. 

D. 

Dehesa — (Day-eh'-sah).      Arable   lands   converted 

to  pastures. 
Del  Mar — (Dehl  Mahr).     Of  the  ocean;   from  the 

ocean;  pertaining  thereto. 
Del  Monte — (Dell  Mohn'-tay).     Of  the  forest;  from 

the  forest. 

Del  Bey — (Dell  Ray).     Of  or  from  the  King. 
Del  Sur — (Dell  Soor).     Of  or  from  the  South. 
De   Imz — (Deh    Looth).      Of    the    light;    clarity; 

lustre. 
De  Sabla — (Deh  Sah'-blah).  In  honor  of  the  pioneer 

De  Sabla  family. 
Descanso — (Deh-skahn'-soh).    Rest;  repose;  quiet; 

a  placid  bay  or  port. 
Dos   Palos — (Dohs    Pah'-lohs).      Two    trees;    two 

sticks;    two  stumps. 
Dos  Pueblos — (Dohs  Poo-eh'-bloes) .     Two  towns; 

two  cities. 

Dos  Bios — (Dohs  Ree'-ohs).     Two  rivers. 
Duarte — (Doo-ahr'-tay).     In  honor  of  the  Pioneer 

Duarte  family. 
Dulzura — (Dool-thoc/-rah).      Sweetness;    pleasing 

manners. 

E. 

El  Cajon — (El  Kah-hone').  Shaped  like  a  box; 
square  box. 

El  Centro — (El  Sen'-troh).  The  center;  central 
part. 

El  Dorado — (El  Doh-rah'-doh).  See  origin  of  coun- 
ties. 

Elmira — (El-mee'-rah).     Feminine  proper  name. 

El  Monte — (El  Mohn'-teh) .  The  forest;  the  woods; 
the  wilds. 


16 DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

El  Portal — (El  Pohr-tahl').  The  portage;  entry; 
door. 

El  Segundo — (El  Seh-goon'-doe) .    The  second  (II) . 

El  Toro — (El  Toh'-roe).     The  bull;  Taurus. 

El  Venado — (El  Veh-nah'-doe).  The  deer;  the 
buck. 

El  Verano — (El  Veh-rah'-noe) .     The  Summer. 

Encanto — (En-kahn'-toe).  Enchantment;  charm; 
fascination. 

Encinitos — (En-thee-nee'-toes).  Small  ever-green 
oaks. 

Escalon — (Es-kah-lone')-  Step;  scale;  step  of  a 
stairway. 

Escondido — (Es-kohn-dee'-doe).  Concealed;  hid- 
den nook. 

Esmeralda — (Es-meh-rahl'-dah).  Emerald;  femi- 
nine proper  name. 

Esparto — (Es-pahr'-toe).     Spanish  broom-grass. 

Estrella —  ( Es-treh'-lee-ah ) .     Star. 

Estudillo — (Es-too-deel'-e-o).  In  honor  of  the  Es- 
tudillo  family,  pioneer  settlers  in  Southern  Cal- 
ifornia. 

P. 

Famoso — (Fah-moh'-soh).     Famous;   celebrated. 

Farallon —  ( Fah-rah-lee-ohn' ) .  Small,  pointed 
Islands  in  the  sea. 

Florin — (Floh-reen').  A  silver  coin.  (Undoubted- 
ly a  misnomer,  evidently  intended  to  refer  to 
flowers.) 

Fontana — (Fohn-tah'-nah).  In  honor  of  the  pioneer 
Fontana  family;  also  means  fountain;  springs. 

Fortima — (For-too'-nah).  Fortune;  riches;  fem- 
inine proper  name. 

Fresno — (Fres'-noe).  Ash-tree.  (See  origin  of 
counties) . 

Pmto — (Froo'-toe).     Productiveness;  fruitfulness. 

G. 

Gaviota — (Gah-vee-o'-tah).  A  sea  gull;  where 
gulls  abound. 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  17 

Gavilan  —  (Gah-vee-lahn').       Sparrow    or    chicken 

hawk. 

Goleta  —  (Goh-leh'-tah).     A  schooner;  a  ship. 
Gonzales  —  (Gohn-thal'-less).     In  honor  of  the  pio- 

neer Gonzales  family. 

Gorda  —  (Gohr'-dah).     Fat;  corpulent;    (feminine). 
Guadalupe  —  (Wad-ah-loo'-pay).     In  honor  of  "Nu- 

esta   Senora   de   Guadalupe,"    "Holy   Mary,   our 

Lady  of  Guadalupe,"  (Mexico). 
Graciosa  —  (Grah-thee-o'-sah).       Graceful;      (femi- 

nine). 
Guinda  —  (  Geen'-dah  )  .     Cherry  ;    (  Cherryland  )  . 

H. 

Hermosa  —  (Err-moe'-sah).    Beautiful;  handsome. 
Hernandez  —  (Err-nahn'-deth).      In    honor    of   the 

early  Spanish  explorer. 
Hilo  —  (Ee'-loe)  .    Thread. 

L 

Ignacio  —  (Ee-nah'-thee-o)  .       Ignatius;     masculine 

proper  name. 
Indio  —  (Een'-dee-o).     Indian;   bluish  coloring. 


La  Canada  —  (Lah  Kahn-nee-yah'-dah).    Small  can- 

yon or  gulch. 

Lagunitas  —  (Lah-goo-nee'-tahs).    Small  lakes. 
La  Honda  —  (Lah   Ohn'-dah).     A  dam;    depths  of 

water. 

La  Mesa  —  (Lah  Meh'-sah).    The  table;  table-lands. 
La     Mirada  —  (Lah     Mee-rah'-dah).       The     view; 

glance;  gaze;  viewpoint. 
La  Panza  —  (Lah  Pahn'-thah).     The  belly;  paunch- 

like  protuberance. 
Las  Lomas  —  (Lahs  Loh'-mahs).     The  hills;  small 

mountains. 
Las  Plumas  —  (Lahs  Plume'-ahs).     The  feathers; 

plumes;    (see     origin  of  counties). 
La  ton  —  (Lah-tohn').     Brass;  latten. 


IS DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

Llanada — (Lee-ah-nan'-dan).  Tract  of  level 
ground;  a  plain. 

Llano — (Lee-ah'-noe).     A  plain;   level  ground. 

Llano  del  Bio — (Lee-ah'-noe  dell  Ree'-o).  Tract 
of  level  ground  in  a  river-bed  where  a  stream 
has  left  or  changed  its  course. 

Lolita — (Lo-lee'-tah).  Contraction  of  the  fem- 
inine and  masculine  proper  name  of  Dolores, 
signifying  dolor,  grief,  pain  and  commemorat- 
ing the  anguish  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary  at 
the  Crucifixion. 

Loma  Linda — (Loh'-mah  Leen'-dah).     Pretty  hill. 

Loma  Portal — (Loh'-mah  Pohr-tahl').  Portage 
hill;  hill  near  a  portal. 

Loma  Prieta — (Loh'-mah  Pree-eh'-tah).  Black  hill 
or  mountain. 

Lomita — (Loh-mee'-tah).     Little  hill  or  knoll. 

Los  Alamitos — (Lohs  Ah-lah-mee'-toes).  Small 
poplar  grove. 

Los  Alamos — (Lohs  Ah'-lah-moes) .  Grove  of  grown 
poplars. 

Los  Altos — (Lohs  Ahl'-toes).  The  heights;  sum- 
mits. 

Los  Angeles — (Lohs  An'-hell-less).  The  Angels. 
In  honor  of  "Nuestra  Senora,  La  Reina  de  Los 
Angeles,"  (Our  Lady,  Queen  of  Angels.)  Los 
Angeles  is  a  contraction  of  the  original  name 
given  this  city,  which  was  "El  Pueblo  del  Rio 
de  Nuestra  Senora,  La  Reina  de  Los  Angeles  de 
Porciuncula."  (See  origin  of  counties.) 

Los  Banos — (Lohs  Bah'-nee-ohs) .  The  Baths; 
bathing  place;  springs. 

Los  Gatos — (Lohs  Gah'-toes).  The  Cats;  where 
cats  abound. 

Los  Molinos — (Lohs  Moh-lee'-noes).     The  Mills. 

Los  Nietos — (Lohs  Nee-eh'-toes).  The  Grandchil- 
dren; masculine. 

Los  Olivos — (Lohs  Oh-lee'-vohs) .  The  Olive  Trees; 
olive  grove. 

Lucia — (Loo-thee'-ah).  Lucy;  feminine  proper 
name. 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  19 

M. 

Madera — (Mah-deh'-rah).  Timber;  wood.  (See 
origin  of  counties.) 

Malaga — (Mah'-lah-gah).  Name  of  a  city  in  Spain; 
a  wine. 

Manzana — (Mahn-tha'-nah).  Apple;  where  apples 
abound. 

Manteca — (Mahn-teh'-cah).    Lard;  fat. 

Manton — (Mahn-tohn').  A  large  mantle;  a  shawl 
similar  to  the  mantilla. 

Manzanar — (Mahn-tha-nar').      Apple    orchard. 

Mariposa — (Mah-ree-poh'-sah).  Butterfly.  (See 
origin  of  counties). 

Martinez — (Mahr-tee'-neth).  In  honor  of  pioneer 
Martinez  family. 

Melones — (Meh-loh'-ness).     Melons  of  any  kind. 

Mendocino- — (Mehn-dbe-thee'-noe).  In  honor  of 
Viceroy  Mendosa.  (See  origin  of  counties.) 

Merced — (Mehr-thed').  In  honor  of  Nuestra  Senora 
de  La  Merced,  (Our  Lady  of  Mercy).  (See 
origin  of  counties.) 

Mesa  Grande — (Meh'-sah  Grahn'-day).  Big  Table; 
extensive  table  lands. 

Milpitas — (Meel-pee'-tahs).  Small  truck  gardens. 
Dim.  of  milpas. 

Mlna — (Mee'-nah).     Mine;  mineral  deposit. 

Mineral —  ( Mee-neh-rahl' ) .     Mineral. 

Mira  Flores — (Mee'-rah  Floe'-ress).  Flower-view; 
overlooking  flowers. 

Miramar — (Mee'-rah-mahr).  Ocean-view;  over- 
looking the  sea. 

Mira  Monte — (Mee'-rah  Mohn'-teh).  Forest-view; 
overlooking  the  wilds. 

Modesto — (Moh-dehs'-toe).  Modesty;  chastity.  This 
name  was  originally  given  to  the  Padres  in  the 
feminine,  Modesta,  to  commemorate  the  Mod- 
esty, Chastity  and  Purity  of  the  Virgin  Mary, 
but  usage  has  caused  the  masculine  to  be  used 
almost  exclusively.  However,  it  is  a  masculine 
as  well  as  a  feminine  Spanish  proper  name,  and 


20  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

though  the  definition  is  the  same  in  either  gen- 
der, the  feminine  is  more  accurate. 
Montalvo — (Mohn-tahl'-voe).     In  honor  of  Garcia 

Ordonez  de  Montalvo.     (See  origin  of  the  name 

of  California.) 
Monte    Bello — (Mohn'-teh    Bel'-lee-o).      Beautiful 

forest  or  woods. 
Monterey — (Mohn-teh-ray').     Kingly  Forest;  King 

of  the  Forest. 
Montecito — (Mohn-teh-thee'-toe).       Small     forest; 

wildwood. 
Moreno — (Moh-reh'-noe).       Brown;     brunette    or 

swarthy  male;   name  of  a  pioneer  family  which 

settled  in  Monterey. 
Morena — (Moh-reh'-nah).      A  brunette;    feminine 

of  Moreno. 
Morro — (Moh'-roe).  Any  high-rounding  eminence; 

shaped  like  a  Castle. 
Murrieta — (Moo-ree-eh'-tah).     Name  of  notorious 

Mexican  bandit    (Joaquin  Murrieta),   who   with 

a  gang  of  outlaws,  terrorized  California  in  the 

early  fifties. 

N. 

Nacimiento  —  (Nah-thee-mee-n'-toe) .  Nativity; 
Source;  commemorating  the  Birth  of  the 
Saviour. 

Naranjo— (Nah-rahn'-hoe).     An  orange  tree. 

Navarro — (Nah-vah'-roe).  In  honor  of  pioneer 
family  of  that  name. 

Novato — (Noh-vah'-toe).  New;  innovation;  be- 
ginning. 

Nuevo — (Noo-eh'-voe).  New;  commencement; 
just  started. 

O. 

Ora — (Oh'-rah).     Now;  at  present. 

Oriental —  ( Oh-r  ee-n-tahl' ) .      Oriental ;    pertaining 

to  the  Orient. 
Oro  L»oma — (Oh'-roe  Loe'-mah).     Gold  Hill. 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  21 

Oro  Grande — (Oh'-roe  Grahn'-day).  Coarse  gold; 
big  gold;  nuggets. 

P. 

Pacheco — (Pah-chay'-coe).  In  honor  of  the  pio- 
neer Pacheco  family  of  which  the  head,  Romu- 
aldo  Pacheco,  was  one  of  California's  first  gov- 
ernors under  American  rule. 

Pala —  ( Pah'-lah ) .     Shovel ;  fire-shovel. 

Palo  Alto— (Pah'-loe  Ahl'-toe).  Tall  tree;  tall 
stump;  tall  stick. 

Palo  Cedro — (Pah'-loe  Thay'-droe).  Cedar  stump; 
cedar  stick;  cedar  tree. 

Palo  Verde — (Pah'-loe  Vehr'-day).  Green  stump; 
green  stick. 

Pantano — (Pahn-tah'-noe).  Lake  or  reservoir  for 
irrigation  purposes;  marsh. 

Paso  Robles — (Pah'-soe  Roh'-bless).  Pass  of  the 
Oaks. 

Patata — (Pah-tah'-tah).  Potato;  where  potatoes 
abound. 

Pescadero —  ( Pehs-cah-day'-roe ) .  Fishing  grounds ; 
schools  of  fish. 

Picacho — (Peek-ah'-choe).     Small  mountain  peak. 

Pico — (Pee'-coe).  In  honor  of  the  pioneer  Pico 
family,  head  of  which,  Don  Pio  Pico,  was  Cali- 
fornia's last  governor  under  Mexican  rule. 

Piedra — (Pee-eh'-drah).      Rock;    stone. 

Pinole — (Pee-noe'-lay).  A  beverage  made  by  Mex- 
icans consisting  of  ground,  baked  or  toasted 
corn,  sugar,  and  water  or  milk. 

Planada — (Plah-nah'-dah).  Level  ground;  a  plain. 

Pleito—  (Play'-toe).  Litigation;  fight;  argument; 
wordy  war. 

Plumas — (Plume'-ahs).  Feathers.  (See  origin  of 
counties.) 

Portola — (Pohr-toe'-lah).  In  honor  of  Don  Gas- 
par  de  Portola,  California's  first  Spanish  gov- 
ernor. 


22  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

Potrero — (Poe-tray'-roe).       Place    where    bronco 

horses  are  broken. 
Pozo — (Poe'-tho).     A  well  of  any  kind,  water  or 

oil,  etc. 
Prado — (Prah'-doe).        Green      meadows,      fields, 

lawns. 
Presidio — (Pray-see'-dee-o).     Military  Post.      (See 

origin  of  Monterey  county.) 
Puente — (Poo-n'-tay).     Bridge  of  any  kind. 
Paraiso —  ( Pah-rah-ee'-soe ) .     Paradise. 
Pulga —  ( Pool'-gah ) .     Plea. 
Punta  Gorda — (Poon'-tah  Gohr'-dah).     Fat  Point; 

big  point. 

B. 

Ramona — (Rah-moh'-nah).  Feminine  of  Ray- 
mond (Ramon). 

Redondo — (Reh-dohn'-doe).  Round;  rounding  or 
circular  in  shape. 

Represa — (Reh-preh'-sah).     A  dam. 

Riego — (Ree-eh'-goe).     Irrigation. 

Rio  Bravo — (Ree'-o  Brah'-voe).  Swollen  river; 
swift  of  current;  wild  stream. 

Rio  Lindo — (Ree'-o  Leen'-doe).     Pretty  river. 

Rio  Vista — (Ree'-o  Vees'-tah).  River-view;  over- 
looking a  river.  * 

Rivera — (Ree-veh'-rah).  Spanish  family  name; 
river;  stream. 

Rodeo — (Roh-day'-o).  Round-up  of  cattle,  horses, 
etc. 

S. 

Sacate — (Sah-cah'-tay).    Hay;  grass. 

Sacramento —  ( Sah-crah-mehn'-toe ) .  Sacrament ; 
commemorative  of  the  Lord's  Supper. 

Salida — (Sah-lee'-dah).  Starting  point;  departure; 
outlet;  projection. 

Salinas — (Sah-leen'-ahs).  Salt  mines;  salty  lo- 
cality. 

San  Andres — (Sahn  Ahn-drehs').     St.  Andrew. 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  23 

San  Anselmo — (Sahn  Ann-sell'-moe).     St.  Anselm. 

San  Renito — (Sahn  Beh-nee'-toe).  Dim.  of  St. 
Benedict. 

San  Bernardino — (Sahn  Behr-nahr-dee'-noe).  St. 
Bernard;  St.  Bernardinus. 

San  Bruno — (Sahn  Broo'-noe).     St.  Bruno. 

San  Carlos — (Sahn  Cahr'-loes).     St.  Charles. 

San  Clemente — (Sahn  Clay-men '-tay).  St.  Cle- 
ment. 

San  Diego — (Sahn  Dee-eh'-goe) .     St.  James. 

San  Dimas — (Sahn  Deem'-ahs).     St.  Dimas. 

San  Fernando — (Sahn  Fehr-nahn'-doe) .  St.  Fer- 
dinand. 

San  Francisco — (Sahn  Frahn-thees'-coe).  St.  Fran- 
cis. 

San  Gabriel— (Sahn  Gah-bree-eP).     St.  Gabriel. 

San  Geronimo — (Sahn  Heh-roe'-nee-moe) .  St.  Je- 
rome; St.  Hierome. 

San  Gregorio — (Sahn  Greh-goo'-ree-o).  St.  Greg- 
ory. 

San  Isidro — (Sahn  Ee-see'-droh).     St.  Isadora 

San  Jacinto — (Sahn  Hah-theen'-toe).  St.  Hya- 
cinth. 

San  Joaquin — (Sahn  Who-ah-keen')-     St.  Joachim. 

San  Jose — (Sahn  Ho-zay').     St.  Joseph. 

San  Juan — (Sahn  Whan).     St.  John. 

San  Juan  Bautista — (Sahn  Whan  Bah-oo-tees'-tah). 
St.  John  the  Baptist. 

San  Juan  Capistrano — (Sahn  Whan  Cah-pees-trah'- 
noe).  St.  John  of  Capistrano,  Italy,  his  birth- 
place. 

San  Leandro — (Sahn  Lee-ahn'-droe) .    St.  Leander. 

San  Lorenzo — (Sahn  Loh-rehn'-tho).   St.  Laurence. 

San  Lucas — (Sahn  Loo'-cahs).     St.  Luke. 

San  Luis  Obispo — (Sahn  Loo'-ees  Oh-bees'-poe). 
St.  Luis,  the  Bishop. 

San  Luis  Key — (Sahn  Loo'-ees  Ray).  St.  Luis  the 
King. 

San  Marcos — (Sahn  Mahr'-coes).     St.  Mark. 

San  Martin — (Sahn  Mahr-teen').     St.  Martin. 


24 DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

San  Mateo — (Sahn  Mah-tay'-o).     St.  Matthew. 

San  Miguel — (Sahn  Mee-gell').     St.  Michael. 

San  Miguel  Arcangel — (Sahn  Mee-gell'  Ahr-cahn'- 
hell).  St.  Michael  the  Archangel. 

San  Pablo — (Sahn  Pah'-bloe).     St.  Paul. 

San  Pedro — (Sahn  Pay'-droe).     St.  Peter. 

San  Quintin — (Sahn  Keen-teen').     St.  Quintin. 

San  Rafael — (Sahn  Rah-fah-ell').     St.  Raphael. 

San  Ramon — (Sahn  Rah-mone').    St.  Raymond. 

San  Simon — (Sahn  See-mone').  St.  Simon.  (This 
is  now  erroneously  called  and  spelled  "San 
Simeon.") 

Santa  Ana — (Sahn'-tah  A'-na).     St.  Ann. 

Santa  Anita — (Sahn'-tah  Ah-nee'-tah).     St.  Anita. 

Santa  Barbara — (Sahn'-tah  Bahr'-bahr-ah).  St. 
Barbara. 

Santa  Clara — (Sahn'-tah  Clah'-rah).  St.  Clara. 
(See  origin  of  counties.) 

Santa  Cruz — (Sahn'-tah  Crooth).     Holy  Cross. 

Santa  Fe— (Sahn'-tah  Fay).     Holy  Faith. 

Santa  Ines — (Sahn'-tah  E-ness').     St.  Agnes. 

Santa  Isabel — (Sahn'-tah  E-sah-bell').  St.  Eliza- 
beth. 

Santa  Lucia — (Sahn'-tah  Loo-thee'-ah).     St.  Lucy. 

Santa  Margarita —  ( Sahn'-tah  Mahr-gah-ree'-tah ) . 
St.  Margaret. 

Santa  Maria — (Sahn'-tah  Mah-ree'-ah).  St.  Mary; 
Holy  Mary. 

Santa  Monica —  ( Sahn'-tah  Moh'-nee-kah ) .  St. 
Monica. 

Santa  Paula — (Sahn'-tah  Pah'-oo-lah).  St.  Pau- 
line. 

Santa  Rosa — (Sahn'-tah  Roe'-sah).     St.  Rose. 

Santa  Susana —  ( Sahn'-tah  Soo-sah'-nah ) .  St. 
Susan. 

Santos —  ( Sahn'-tohs) .     Saints. 

Sanzalito — (Sah-oo-thal-ee'-toe).  Clump  of  wil- 
lows; Dim.  of  sauzal.  (This  is  now  erroneously 
called  and  spelled  "Saucelito.") 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS 25 

Serena — (Seh-reh'-nah).  Serene.  Feminine  proper 
name. 

Serra — (Se'-rah).  In  honor  of  the  Rev.  Father 
Junipero  Serra,  first  Franciscan  Monk  to  land  in 
California,  and  who  founded  all  the  Missions  in 
this  State,  Arizona,  and  Mexico.  Father  Serra's 
remains  are  buried  in  the  sacristy  of  the  Mis- 
sion Carmel,  Monterey,  which  was  at  the  time 
of  the  death  of  Father  Serra,  the  seat  of  gov- 
ernment of  all  the  Missions. 

Sierra  Madre — (See-eh'-rah  Mah'-dreh) .  See  origin 
Sierra  county. 

Soledad —  ( Soh-leh-dad' ) .  Solitude.  Feminine 
proper  name. 

Sonora — (Soh-noh'-rah).  Name  of  State  in  Mex- 
ico; a  musical  instrument. 

T. 

Tasajera —  ( Tah-sah-hay'-rah ) .  Place  where  j  erkey 
is  made.  Strings  of  meat,  beef  or  venison,  hung 
out  to  dry  in  the  sun. 

Tia  Juana — (Tee'-ah  Wha'-nah).  Aunt  Jenny; 
Aunt  Jane. 

Tierra  Bella — (Tee-en '-rah  Bell'-lee-ah).  Beauti- 
ful land  or  country. 

Tierra  Buena — (Tee-eh'-rah  Boo-eh'-nah).  Good 
land;  good  country. 

Tiburon — (Tee-boo-rone').     Shark. 

Tres  Pinos — (Tress  Pee'-noes).  Three  pine  trees; 
three  pines. 

Topaz — (Ton-path').  The  valuable  gem  of  that 
name. 

Trigo — (Tree'-go).     Wheat:   "Wheatland." 

Trinidad — ( Tree-nee-dad' ).  The  Holy  Trinity; 
feminine  proper  name. 

Tropico — (Troh'-pee-coe).     Tropic;  tropical. 

U. 

Uno — (Oo'-noe).     One;  first;   (I). 


26  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

V. 

Vallejo — (Vah-lee-a'-lioe).  In  honor  of  Gen.  Ma- 
riano Vallejo.  (See  origin  of  counties.) 

Ventura — (Vehn-too'-rah).  Luck;  fortune;  (see 
origin  of  counties). 

Verde — (Vehr'-day).    Verdure;  greenery;  vernal. 

Vidal — (Vee-dahl').     In  honor  of  a  pioneer  settler. 

Viola — (Vee-o'-lah).  Violet;  musical  instrument; 
feminine  proper  name. 


Origin  of  the  Name  California 


The  origin  of  the  musical  name  "California" 
appears  to  be  but  little  known  even  in  this 
State.  For  many  years  its  derivation  has  been 
shrouded  in  mystery,  and  though  there  are 
many  conjectures  extant  as  to  the  etymology 
of  the  word,  ;in  recent  years  the  theory  of  Dr. 
Edward  Everett  Hale,  an  eminent  historian 
who  has  devoted  many  years  to  research  in 
matters  Californian,  has  been  generally  ac- 
cepted as  the  most  accurate.  Dr.  Bale's  views 
upon  this  most  interesting  subject  will  be  readi- 
ly approved  by  the  intelligent  reader  when  com- 
pared with  the  attempts  of  others  to  give  a 
plausible  account  of  the  derivation  of  the  word. 

The  following  account  of  the  origin  of  the 
name  "  Calif ornia"  will  be  found  on  page  26, 
volume  1,  Leigh  H.  Irvine's  History  of  Cali- 
fornia, an  exhaustive  work  of  great  value,  and 
of  still  greater  interest.  A  copy  of  this  splen- 
did work  should  adorn  the  shelves  of  the 
libraries  of  every  true  Calif ornian 's  home. 

Mr.  Irvine 'says: 


28  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

Professor  Josiah  Royce  of  Harvard,  "Win- 
field  Davis,  and  other  historians,  now  accept 
Dr.  Edward  Everett  Hale's  conclusion  that  the 
name  California  was  derived  from  an  old 
romance  and  applied  by  Cortes  to  the  peninsula 
he  discovered  in  1535.  Mr.  Hale  made  his 
investigations  in  the  year  1862,  while  reading 
the  old  romance,  "Sergas  Esplandian,"  by 
Garcia  Ordonez  de  Montalvo,  the  translator  of 
Amidas.  In  this  connection  it  is  worth  while 
to  give  some  of  the  statements  of  the  eminent 
Doctor  Hale,  for  there  have  been  a  number  of 
theories  as  to  the  origin  of  the  name.  He  says : 
"Coming  to  the  reference,  in  this  forgotten 
romance,  to  the  island  of  California,  very  near 
to  the  Terrestrial  Paradise,  I  saw  at  once  that 
here  was  the  origin  of  the  name  of  the  state  of 
California,  long  sought  for  by  the  antiquarians 
of  that  state,  but  long  forgotten.  For  the 
romance  seems  to  have  been  published  in  1510 — 
the  edition  of  1521  is  now  in  existence — while 
our  California,  even  the  peninsula  of  that  name, 
was  not  discovered  by  the  Spaniards  till  1526, 
and  was  not  named  California  till  1535." 

Soon  after  his  discovery,  Mr.  Hale  invited 
the  American  Antiquarian  Society  to  examine 
the  evidence,  and  in  March,  1864,  he  translated 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  29 

for  the  Atlantic  Monthly  all  the  parts  of  the 
story  that  relate  to  the  Queen  of  California 
(Califia),  and  in  1873  he  published  a  small 
volume  on  the  subject,  in  which  he  said:  "The 
name  California  was  given  by  Cortes,  who  dis- 
covered the  peninsula  in  1535.  For  the  state- 
ment that  he  named  it,  we  have  the  authority 
of  Herrera.  It  is  proved,  I  think,  that 
the  expedition  of  Mendoza,  in  1532,  did 
not  see  California;  it  is  certain  that  they 
gave  it  no  name.  Humboldt  saw,  in  the  arch- 
ives of  Mexico,  a  statement  in  manuscript  that 
it  was  discovered  in  1526;  but  for  this,  there 
is  no  other  authority.  It  is  certain  that  the 
name  does  not  appear  till  1535.  No  etymology 
of  this  name  has  been  presented  satisfactory 
to  the  historians.  Venegas,  the  Jesuit  historian 
of  California,  writing  in  1758,  sums  up  the 
matter  in  these  words:  "The  most  ancient  name 
is  California,  used  by  Bernal  Diaz,  limited  to 
a  single  bay.  I  could  wish  to  gratify  the  read- 
er by  the  etymology  and  true  origin  of  this 
name;  but  in  none  of  the  various  dialects  of 
the  natives  could  the  missionaries  find  the  least 
traces  of  such  a  name  being  given  by  them  to 
the  country,  or  even  to  any  harbor,  bay,  or 
small  part  of  it.  Nor  can  I  subscribe  to  the 


30  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

etymology  of  some  writers,  who  suppose  the 
name  to  be  given  to  it  by  the  Spaniards,  on 
their  feeling  an  unusual  heat  at  their  first  land- 
ing here;  that  they  thence  called  the  country 
California,  compounding  the  two  Latin  words 
calida  and  fornax,  a  hot  furnace.  I  believe  few 
will  think  the  adventures  could  boast  of  so 
much  literature.  Clavigero,  in  his  history  of 
California,  after  giving  this  etymology,  offers 
as  an  alternative  the  following,  as  the  opinion 
of  the  learned  Jesuit,  D.  Guiseppe  Compoi: 
"He  believes  that  the  name  is  composed  of  the 
Spanish  word  cala,  which  means  *a  little  cove 
of  the  sea,'  and  the  Latin  fornix,  which  means 
'the  vault  of  a  building.'  He  thinks  these 
words  are  thus  applied,  because,  within  Cape 
St.  Lucas,  there  is  a  little  cove  of  the  sea 
towards  the  western  part  of  which  rises  a  rock, 
so  worn  out  that  on  the  upper  part  of  the 
hollow  is  seen  a  vault,  as  perfect  as  if  made 
by  art.  Cortes,  therefore,  observing  this  cala, 
or  cove,  and  this  vault,  probably  called  this 
port  California,  or  cala  and  fornix — speaking 
half  in  Spanish,  half  in  Latin.  Clavigero  sug- 
gests, as  an  improvement  on  this  somewhat  wild 
etymology,  that  Cortes  may  have  said  Cala  for- 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS 31 

nax,  'cove  furnace,'  speaking  as  in  the  Jesuit's 
suggestion,  in  two  languages." 

"  Towards  the  close  of  this  romance  of  the 
Sergas  Esplandian,  the  various  Christian 
knights  assemble  to  defend  the  Emperor  of  the 
Greeks  and  the  city  of  Constantinople  against 
the  attacks  of  the  Turks  and  Infidels.  In  the 
romance,  the  name  appears  with  precisely  our 
spelling,  in  the  following  passage: 

"Sergas,  ch.  157:  'Knows  that,  on  the  right 
hand  of  the  Indies,  there  is  an  island  called 
California,  very  near  to  the  Terrestrial  Para- 
dise, which  was  peopled  with  black  women, 
without  any  men  among  them,  because  they 
were  accustomed  to  live  after  the  fashion  of 
Amazons.  They  were  of  strong  and  hardened 
bodies,  of  ardent  courage,  and  of  great  force. 
The  island  was  the  strongest  in  the  world, 
from  its  steep  rocks  and  great  cliffs.  Their 
arms  were  all  of  gold;  and  so  were  the  capari- 
sons of  the  wild  beasts  which  they  rode,  after 
having  tamed  them;  for  in  all  the  island  there 
is  no  other  metal.  They  lived  in  caves  very 
well  worked  out ;  they  had  many  ships,  in  which 
they  sailed  to  other  parts  to  carry  on  their 
forays.'  " 

The  name  appears  in  several  distinct  pass- 


32  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

ages  in  the  book.  Mr.  Hale  adds:  "This 
romance,  as  I  have  said,  is  believed  to  have 
been  printed  first  in  1510.  No  copies  of  this 
edition,  however,  are  extant.  But  of  the  edi- 
tion of  1519  a  copy  is  preserved;  and  there  are 
copies  of  successive  editions  of  1521,  1525,  and 
1526,  in  which  last  year  two  editions  were 
published — one  at  Seville  and  the  other  at  Bur- 
gos. All  of  these  are  Spanish.  It  follows,  al- 
most certainly,  that  Cortes  and  his  followers, 
in  1535,  must  have  been  acquainted  with  the 
romance;  and  as  they  sailed  up  the  west  side 
of  Mexico,  they  supposed  they  were  precisely 
at  the  place  indicated — 'on  the  right  hand  of 
the  Indies.'  It  will  be  remembered  also,  that 
by  sailing  in  the  same  direction,  Columbus,  in 
his  letter  to  the  sovereigns,  says  'he  shall  be 
sailing  towards  the  Terrestrial  Paradise.'  We 
need  not  suppose  that  Cortes  believed  the 
romance  more  than  we  do;  though  we  assert 
that  he  borrowed  a  name  from  it  to  indicate 
the  peninsula  he  found  'on  the  right  side  of 
the  Indies,  near  to  the  Terrestrial  Paradise.' 
*  *  *  In  ascribing  to  the  Esplandian  the 
origin  of  the  name  California,  I  know  that  I 
furnish  no  etymology  for  that  word.  I  have 
not  found  the  word  in  any  earlier  romances. 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS 33 

I  will  only  suggest  that  the  root  Calif,  the 
Spanish  spelling  for  the  sovereign  of  the  Mus- 
sulman power  of  the  time,  was  in  the  mind  of 
the  author  as  he  invented  these  Amazon  allies 
of  the  Infidel  power." 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  Senator  James 
D.  Phelan,  a  student  of  Californiana,  has  named 
his  beautiful  home  in  Saratoga,  in  Santa  Clara 
County,  "Montalvo,"  in  honor  of  the  author 
whose  book  gave  California  her  name. 


Derivation  and  Definition  of  the 

'Names  of  the  Several  Counties 

of  California 


(Report  of  General  Mariano  G.  Vallejo  to  the 

First  Legislative  Session.     From  Calif  or  ma 

Blue  Book.) 

IN  SENATE,  April  16,  1850. 
To  the  Senate  of  the  State  of  Calif orma: 

The  Select  Committee,  appointed  by  your 
honorable  body  in  the  latter  part  of  January 
last,  "to  report  to  the  Senate  the  derivation  and 
definition  of  the  names  of  the  several  counties 
of  the  State/'  as  established  by  the  bill,  en- 
titled "An  act  sub-dividing  the  State  into  coun- 
ties, and  establishing  the  seats  of  justice  there- 
in," would  respectfully  report: 

That  at  the  time  of  the  appointment  of  the 
committee,  the  said  bill  had  passed  one  branch 
of  the  Legislature  only,  nor  did  the  same  re- 
ceive the  approval  of  the  Governor  until  the 
18th  day  of  February  last.  Upon  the  same 
day,  however,  another  bill  was  introduced  into 


36  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

the  Senate,  amendatory  of  no  less  than  twelve 
sections  of  said  act;  and  shortly  afterwards, 
another  amendatory  bill  to  the  same  act  was 
introduced  into  the  lower  branch  of  the  Legis- 
lature. By  the  provisions  of  these  two  amend- 
atory bills,  a  number  of  new  counties  were 
created,  the  names  of  others  changed,  and  the 
original  bill  materially  altered  in  many  par- 
ticulars. As  it  was  intended  that  the  report 
of  the  committee  thus  appointed  should  con- 
tain the  derivation  and  definition  of  the  names 
of  the  counties  as  created  by  law,  they  could 
not  perfect  their  labors  until  these  amandatory 
bills  had  been  finally  acted  upon,  and  the  names 
of  the  various  counties  and  their  respective 
boundaries  definitely  settled.  The  last  men- 
tioned bill  was  not  approved  until  the  5th  in- 
stant, and,  consequently,  but  very  little  time 
has  been  allowed  to  your  committee  to  finish 
their  labors  and  to  prepare  this  report. 

Your  committee  must  also  state  that  they  have 
labored  under  great  disadvantages  in  preparing 
their  report,  from  the  absence  of  all  books  of 
reference  on  the  subject  committed  to  them. 
A  resolution  was  adopted  in  your  honorable 
body,  directing  the  Secretary  to  procure  cer- 
tain works  on  the  early  history  of  California, 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS 37 

and  which,  could  they  have  been  procured, 
would  materially  have  assisted  your  committee 
in  the  discharge  of  their  duties.  But  the  Secre- 
tary was  unable  to  obtain  them,  and  your  com- 
mittee have  been  compelled  to  depend  almost 
entirely  upon  recollection  and  upon  oral  in- 
formation in  the  preparation  of  the  following 
report. 

Your  committee  would  also  ask  the  indul- 
gence of  the  Senate  for  having  introduced  under 
the  name  of  some  of  the  counties  anecdotes  and 
incidents  of  a  personal  character  not  properly 
belonging  to  "the  derivation  and  definition " 
of  the  names  of  those  counties.  But  the  cir- 
cumstances mentioned  have  become  so  well 
known  in  those  counties,  and  some  of  them  are 
so  intimately  connected  with  the  family  history 
of  the  compiler  of  this  report,  that  they  have 
been  permitted  to  find  a  place  therein. 

With  these  remarks,  your  committee  would 
most  respectfully  submit  the  following  report. 

M.  G.  VALLEJO,  Chairman. 
April  15,  1850. 


38  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

EEPOET  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE. 

San  Diego. — This  county  (St.  James),  derives 
its  name  from  its  present  chief  town,  named 
atfer  the  harbor,  which  is  only  three  miles  dis- 
tant therefrom.  This  excellent  harbor  was  dis- 
covered and  so  named  by  Sebastian  Vizcaino, 
admiral  of  the  Spanish  royal  squadron,  in  the 
year  1603;  and  in  1768  His  Catholic  Majesty, 
by  royal  decree,  determined  upon  its  explora- 
tion and  settlement.  Jose  Galvez,  Royal  Com- 
missioner (Visitador  General)  of  New  Spain, 
was  consequently  intrusted  with  the  undertak- 
ing; and  for  the  purpose  of  successfully  car- 
rying it  through,  two  expeditions  were  fitted 
out — one  by  land,  the  other  by  water;  the  lat- 
ter was  carried  out  in  the  "San  Carlos/'  "Prin- 
cipe/' and  "San  Jose/'  commanded  by  Vicente 
Villa,  two  of  which  vessels  having  reached  their 
destination  respectively  on  the  llth  of  April 
and  on  the  1st  of  May,  1769,  whilst  the  fate 
of  the  third  ("San  Jose")  still  remains  un- 
known. The  land  expedition  was  divided  into 
two  parts,  the  first  being  commanded  by  Fer- 
nando Eivera  y  Moncada,  and  the  second  by 
Captain  Gaspar  de  Portola,  Governor  of  the 
Province.  The  first  division  reached  its  des- 
tination on  the  14th  of  May  of  said  year  1769, 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS 39 

and  there  found  the  two  above-mentioned  ves- 
sels at  anchor.  On  the  1st  of  July  the  second 
division  also  arrived  safely;  and  on  the  16th 
of  the  same  month  and  year,  the  land  having 
been  taken  possession  of  with  the  accus- 
tomed formalities  in  the  name  of  His  Catho- 
lic Majesty,  the  establishment  of  the  mission 
of  San  Diego  was  at  once  started  under  the 
direction  of  the  Eeverend  Father  Junipero  Ser- 
ra — this  being  the  first  civilized  settlement 
founded  in  the  extensive  and  beautiful  coun- 
try known  as  Upper  California. 

San  Diego  presents  an  arid  appearance,  but 
it  possesses  nevertheless,  a  pleasant  and  luxuri- 
ous climate,  with  a  clear,  blue  sky,  enhanced 
by  the  sublime  view  of  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

There  are  no  building  materials  or  timber  in 
its  vicinity,  but  its  water  is  of  the  best  that 
is  known  in  the  country.  It  abounds  in  cop- 
per mines,  while  it  produces  the  best  olives  and 
Indian  pears;  and  although  its  vineyards  have 
not  increased  in  number,  yet  the  fruit  they 
bear  is  certainly  of  the  best  quality  which  Cali- 
fornia yields. 

Notwithstanding  the  departure  of  many  fami- 
lies from  San  Diego,  no  part  of  the  country 
maintains  so  high  a  claim  for  the  amiable  and 


40 DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

sociable  qualities  of  the  fairer  portion  of  its 
inhabitants.  Here,  indeed,  the  grace  of  per- 
son and  amiability  of  disposition  of  the  fair  sex 
have  attracted  the  young  men  of  the  north,  and 
caused  many  of  them  to  be  led  captive  to  the 
altar  of  Hymen,  thus  contributing  to  their 
moral  subjection  to  the  fair  Dieguinas  in  the 
latter 's  native  place,  to  whom  the  writer  can  not 
but  tender  a  tribute  of  admiration  and  re- 
spect. 

Los  Angeles. — This  county  derives  its  name 
from  the  city  of  Los  Angeles,  which  was 
founded  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1781, 
by  order  of  the  Viceroy  of  New  Spain,  Bailio 
Frey  Antonio  Bucareli  y  Ursua,  and  is  situated 
on  the  right  bank  of  the  "Porciuncula"  river, 
which  copiously  waters  the  highly  fertile  plains 
whereon  the  city  stands.  Invited  by  the  genial 
climate,  the  inhabitants  have  converted  a  large 
portion  of  this  plain  into  a  delightful  garden, 
which  is  covered  with  all  sorts  of  native  fruit 
trees,  but  especially  the  vine,  which  is  cultivated 
with  care  and  extraordinary  success. 

This  beautiful  and  extensive  valley,  famous 
for  its  excellent  wines  and  liquors,  contains 
within  its  limits  the  ex-missions  of  San  Juan 
Capistrano,  San  Gabriel,  and  San  Fernando, 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS 41 

which,  to  within  the  last  few  years,  constituted 
the  best  and  richest  establishments  of  the  kind. 
In  1832,  including  the  environs,  they  numbered 
very  nearly  half  a  million  head  of  cattle. 

From  the  reasons  above  mentioned,  as  well 
as  from  its  extent  and  natural  advantages, 
the  county  of  Los  Angeles  is  destined  to  be- 
come the  most  populous  of  any  in  the  south, 
and  doubtless  many  men  of  business,  both  pub- 
lic and  mercantile,  tired  of  their  avocations, 
will  retire  there  to  enjoy  a  life  of  angels. 

The  white  population  of  the  county  is  from 
12,000  to  15,000. 

Santa  Barbara. — There  being  a  distance  of 
more  than  five  hundred  miles  between  the  mili- 
tary posts  of  San  Diego  and  Monterey,  and  the 
missions  of  San  Antonio,  San  Luis  Obispo,  San 
Buenaventura,  San  Gabriel,  and  San  Juan  Cap- 
istrano  being  situated  in  this  intervening  space, 
the  Governor  deemed  it  advisable,  for  the  pro- 
tection of  these  missions,  to  establish  another 
post  or  "presidio"  at  some  suitable  point  some- 
where in  their  vicinity;  with  this  object  in 
view,  and  with  the  requisite  troops,  and  ac- 
companied by  the  Reverend  Presiding  Father 
Junipero  Serra,  he  bent  his  steps  toward  these 
missions,  until  reaching  a  valley  of  delightful 


42  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

view  and  rich  verdancy,  in  April,  1782,  where 
the  troops  were  stationed,  and  the  new  "pres- 
idio" called  "Santa  Barbara,"  which  is  the 
oldest  and  principal  town  of  that  immediate 
section  of  country.  Hence  the  name  of  the 
county. 

San  Luis  Obispo. — This  county  takes  its  name 
from  its  principal  town,  which  is  the  so-called 
mission,  founded  on  the  1st  of  September,  1772, 
by  the  Reverend  Fathers  Junipero  Serra  and 
Jose  Cavalier,  in  the  fertile  and  beautiful  hol- 
low named  "Bears'  Glen,"  by  the  troops  of 
Monterey  on  the  same  day  and  year,  from  having 
there  killed  a  number  of  bears,  which,  being 
cut  up  and  dried,  supplied  them  with  meat  for 
months.  There  is  not  in  California  a  settle- 
ment that  was  more  willingly  and  benignly  re- 
ceived by  the  aborigines  than  the  mission  of 
San  Luis  Obispo;  indeed,  there  was  no  reason 
for  any  other  reception  on  the  part  of  the 
Indians,  since  they  were  generously  treated  by 
the  whites,  and  received  from  them  the  benefi- 
cial effects  of  their  calling  and  the  desirable 
extermination  of  dangerous  wild  beasts. 

The  following  circumstance,  which  happened 
during  the  first  months  of  the  foundation  of 
San  Luis  Obispo,  is  insignificant  in  itself,  but 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  43 

the  writer  can  not  but  dwell  upon  it  for  a 
moment  with  the  most  tender  feelings  of  the 
heart : 

As  a  matter  o'f  course,  at  that  period  few 
families,  had  as  yet  migrated  to  this  country, 
and  the  female  sex  was  an  oasis  in  the  desert. 
The  writer's  father  was  one  of  the  many  who 
immigrated  here  in  bachelorship,  and  while 
sojourning  in  San  Luis  Obispo  he  unexpectedly 
met  with  a  lady  who  was  in  travail,  and  about 
to  bring  a  new  being  into  the  world;  and  as 
there  was  no  one,  save  her 'husband  to  assist 
her,  he  acted  as  holder  (tenedor).  The  lady 
was  safely  delivered  of  a  girl,  whereupon  the 
holder  (then  a  young  man)  solicited  of  the  par- 
ents the  hand  of  their  child,  and  a  formal 
agreement  ensued  between  the  parties,  condi- 
tioned that  if  at  mature  age  the  girl  should 
willingly  consent  to  the  union,  the  ceremony 
would  be  duly  performed.  Time  rolled  by, 
and  year  after  year  transpired,  until  the  mucha- 
cha  had  reached  her  fourteenth  year,  when  the 
marriage  took  place,  and  the  offspring  of  that 
union  has  now  the  honor  to  present  his  readers 
with  this  short  biographical  sketch. 

Monterey. — This  name  is  composed  of  the 
words  monte  and  rey,  and  literally  means  "king 


44  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

of  forests."  The  harbor  of  Monterey  was  dis- 
covered in  1603,  by  Admiral  Sebastian  Vizcaino, 
and  so  named  in  honor  of  Count  Monterey,  as 
well  as  from  the  neighboring  forest  of  massive 
pines  and  other  trees. 

On  being  informed  of  this  discovery,  the 
King  of  Spain,  at  the  instance  of  the  Marquis 
of  Croix,  Viceroy  of  Mexico,  and  Jose  Galvez, 
Most  Illustrious  Royal  Commissioner,  ordered 
a  second  naval  expedition  to  act  in  concert 
with  a  land  expedition,  with  a  view  to  taking 
possession  of  the  harbor.  The  latter  expedition, 
commanded  by  Captain  Eivera  y  Moncada, 
reached  its  destination  on  the  23rd  of  May;  the 
former,  commanded  by  Captain  Juan  Perez,  on 
the  31st  of  May,  1770,  when  the  banner  of 
Spain  was  unfurled  in  token  of  possession. 

Monterey  has  always  been  the  residence  of 
the  superior  authorities  as  the  capital  of  Upper 
California.  Since  its  foundation,  fourteen  duly 
appointed  Governors  of  Upper  California  have 
discharged  the  duties  of  that  office,  viz. :  Fages, 
Borica,  Arrillaga,  Arguello  1st,  Sola,  Arguello 
2d,  Echeandia,  Victoria,  Figueroa,  Chico,  Car- 
rillo,  Alvarado,  Micheltorena,  and  Pico. 

The  forest  of  Monterey,  viewed  from  the  bay, 
presents  the  most  picturesque  appearance  im- 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS 45 

aginable.  The  surrounding  hills  of  the  city, 
crowned  with  tall  pines  and  clothed  in  per- 
petual verdure,  excite  in  the  stranger  a  feeling 
at  once  of  surprise  and  sympathy  for  the  place. 
The  native,  as  well  as  the  foreign  residents, 
are  in  constant  admiration  of  it — at  least  such 
is  the  feeling  of  the  writer,  whenever  he  has 
the  honor  of  being  there — his  native  place.  On 
occasions  like  those,  how  fondly  he  recollects 
all  the  scenes  of  his  childhood!  Those  of 
Monterey,  born  since  the  year  1807,  to  you  this 
sincere  sentiment  of  gratitude  is  addressed !  The 
city  of  Monterey  contains  from  1,500  to  2,000 
inhabitants. 

In  October,  1842,  the  American  colors  were 
hoisted  there  by  Commodore  Jones;  it  is  said 
through  pretended  mistake — but  he  lowered 
them  at  the  end  of  forty-eight  hours.  On  the 
7th  of  July,  1846,  they  were  again  unfolded 
to  the  breeze  of  Monterey  by  Commodore  Sloat, 
and  if  the  act  was  then  done,  also  through  a  con- 
venient mistake,  is  a  question  of  "quien  sabe." 

Santa  Cruz. — The  name  of  this  county  sig- 
nifies "holy  cross."  The  word  "cross,"  mys- 
tically speaking,  is  derived  from  the  gibbet, 
which  the  Greeks,  Romans,  and  other  nations 
used  to  erect  in  that  form,  for  the  purpose  of 


46  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

executing  guilty  slaves  or  persons  of  low  con- 
dition. After  the  crucifixion  of  Christ  the  cross 
was  sanctified,  and  has,  since  that  period,  been 
the  distinguishing  sign  of  the  Christian  re- 
ligion. 

The  county  of  Santa  Cruz  is  probably  the 
richest  in  the  State,  as  regards  timber  and  ir- 
rigated soil.  The  mission  of  Santa  Cruz,  from 
which  the  county  derives  its  name,  was  secu- 
larized in  1834,  and  has  now  a  growing  popu- 
lation. It  is  situated  at  the  north  of  the  bay 
of  Monterey,  and  possesses  an  anchorage.  Three 
vessels  of  ordinary  size  have  been  launched 
there. 

San  Francisco. — The  name  of  this  county  is 
famous  throughout  the  Catholic  world  as  being 
that  of  the  creator  of  the  religious  order  of 
Franciscans  in  Europe  and  America,  in  whose 
name  the  mission  of  'San  Francisco  de  Asis 
(Dolores)  was  established  in  the  year  1776, 
under  the  immediate  superintendence  of  the 
Reverend  Father  Junipero  de  Serra.  In  the 
same  year  and  in  the  name  of  His  Catholic 
Majesty,  the  harbor  of  San  Francisco  was  taken 
possession  of,  and  a  fort  or  a  redoubt  erected 
with  the  same  name,  which  it  still  retains.  The 
bay  is  also  called  San  Francisco,  and  lately  it 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS 47 

was  given  to  the  town  of  Yerba  Buena,  by  the 
municipal  authorities  of  that  place,  doubtless 
so  as  to  harmonize  the  three  places  (distant 
one  league  from  another,  and  forming  a  tri- 
angle), that  they  may  amicably  respond  to  the 
same  name  when  the  astounding  activity  and 
rapid  growth  of  one  will  have  united  all  three 
into  an  immense  commercial  city.  In  1836 
there  were  only  two  houses  in  San  Francisco — 
one  belonging  to  Captain  Richardson,  the  other 
to  J.  P.  Leese — and  up  to  1846  the  place  had 
made  little  progress.  In  1848,  however,  it  re- 
ceived so  wonderful  an  impulse  from  the  dis- 
covery of  the  gold  mines  in  the  Sierra  Nevada, 
that  it  can  be  said  San  Francisco  is  an  en- 
chanted or  magical  city,  built  by  spirits  such 
as  are  spoken  of  in  the  Arabian  Nights. 

The  town  now  contains  a  fluctuating  popu- 
lation of  from  20,000  to  40,000  inhabitants, 
made  up  in  the  short  space  of  two  years.  The 
bay  is  large  enough  to  accommodate  the  naval 
and  commercial  fleets  of  the  world;  there  are 
now  on  its  broad,  magnificent  bosom,  five  hun- 
dred vessels,  and  more  than  two  thousand  other 
craft,  steamboats,  scows,  etc.,  actually  engaged 
in  all  the  ramifications  of  trade.  San  Fran- 
cisco possesses  theaters  and  good  substantial 


48  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

wharves;  it  is  the  starting  paint  of  navigation 
to  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin  rivers  and 
their  tributaries,  which  embrace  an  extent  of 
two  hundred  leagues;  it  is  the  present  seat  of 
the  Supreme  Court  of  California,  and  the  resi- 
dence of  the  Collector  of  Customs,  wherein 
more  than  two  millions  of  dollars  have  been 
collected  within  two  years. 

Santa  Clara. — According  to  the  Eoman  Book 
of  Martyrs  or  Martyrology,  as  Hortalana,  the 
pious  mother  of  Santa  Clara,  was  once  kneeling 
before  a  crucifix,  praying  earnestly  that,  being 
with  child,  she  might  be  happily  delivered,  she 
heard  a  voice  whispering,  "Fear,  not,  woman, 
thou  wilt  safely  bring  forth;"  whereupon  a 
brilliant  light  suddenly  illumined  the  place,  and 
the  mother,  inspired  by  the  mysterious  predic- 
tion, baptized  her  child  Clara,  which  is  the 
feminine  of  clear  or  bright.  Clara  was  after- 
wards sanctified  on  account  of  her  many  emi- 
nent virtues,  and  accordingly  venerated  by  the 
Catholics  in  all  Eoman  Catholic  churches. 

The  mission  of  Santa  Clara,  from  which  the 
county  derives  its  name,  was  founded  on  the 
12th  day  of  January,  1777.  The  county  is  fer- 
tile, and  abounds  in  timber  and  water,  but  par- 
ticularly in  quicksilver.  Its  inhabitants  declare 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  49 

it  to  be  most  advantageously  situated  for  a 
large  and  flourishing  city.  Its  chief  town  is 
the  pueblo  of  San  Jose,  the  permanent  seat  of 
government  until  removed  by  law,  as  prescribed 
by  the  Constitution.  Quien  sabe? 

Contra  Costa. — This  name  signifies  "opposite 
coast/7  and  the  county  is  so  called  from  its 
situation  opposite  San  Francisco,  in  an  easterly 
direction.  It  is,  undoubtedly,  one  of  the  most 
fertile  counties  in  the  State,  possessing  rich 
agricultural  lands,  which  embrace  an  interior 
coast  of  thirty  leagues,  extending  in  the  bays 
of  Santa  Clara,  San  Francisco  and  San  Pablo, 
the  straits  of  Carquinez,  the  bay  of  Suisun,  and 
the  San  Joaquin  Kiver;  a  circumstance  which, 
united  to  its  mild  climate,  will  render  it  very 
important.  The  pueblo  of  Martinez  is  its  chief 
town,  and  "New  York  of  the  Pacific, "  as  well 
as  other  towns  on  the  shores  of  the  San  Pablo 
and  San  Joaquin,  will  also  very  soon  effectually 
contribute  to  its  importance. 

"Mount  Diablo/'  which  occupies  a  conspicu- 
ous place  in  modern  maps,  is  in  the  center  of 
this  county.  It  was  intended  so  to  call  the 
county,  but  both  branches  of  the  Legislature, 
after  warm  debates  on  the  subject  (the  repre- 
sentatives of  the  county  opposing  the  proposed 


SO  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

name),  resolved  upon  the  less  profane  name  of 
"Contra  Costa/'  The  following  is  the  history 
of  "Mount  Diablo"  (Mount  Devil):  In  1806 
a  military  expedition  from  San  Francisco 
marched  against  the  tribe  "Bolgones,"  who 
were  encamped  at  the  foot  of  the  mount;  the 
Indians  were  prepared  to  receive  the  expedi- 
tion, and  a  hot  engagement  ensued  in  the  large 
hollow  fronting  the  western  side  of  the  mount. 
As  the  victory  was  about  to  be  decided  in 
favor  of  the  Indians,  an  unknown  personage, 
decorated  with  the  most  extraordinary  plu- 
mage, and  making  divers  movements,  suddenly 
appeared  near  the  combatants.  The  Indians 
were  victorious,  and  the  incognito  (Puy)  de- 
parted toward  the  mount.  The  defeated  sol- 
diers, on  ascertaining  that  the  spirit  went 
through  the  same  ceremony  daily  and  at  all 
hours,  named  the  mount  "Diablo,"  in  allusion 
to  its  mysterious  inhabitant,  that  continued 
thus  to  make  his  strange  appearance,  until  the 
tribe  was  subdued  by  the  troops  in  command 
of  Lieutenant  Gabriel  Moraga,  in  a  second  cam- 
paign of  the  same  year.  In  the  aboriginal 
tongue  "Puy"  signifies  "evil  spirit";  in  Span- 
ish it  means  "diablo,"  and  doubtless  it  signifies 
"devil"  in  the  Anglo-American  language. 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  51 

Marin. — This  is  the  name  of  the  great  chief 
of  the  tribe  Licatiut,  and  the  other  tribes  that 
inhabited  this  county  and  that  of  Sonoma.  In 
Spanish  "Licatiut"  signifies  "Arauzon,"  a  fa- 
vorite root  or  vegetable  of  these  Indians,  of 
which  they  made  plentiful  supplies  to  be  used 
on  great  festival  occasions.  It  affords  them 
nourishment  in  great  abundance  in  the  valley 
of  "Petaluma,"  their  usual  encampment.  In 
the  year  1815  or  1816  a  military  expedition 
proceeded  to  explore  the  country  north  of  the 
bay  of  San  Francisco,  and  on  returning  by  the 
Petaluma  Valley  an  engagement  ensued  with 
Marin,  in  which  he  was  made  prisoner  and 
conducted  to  the  station  at  San  Francisco,  from 
which  he  escaped,  and  again  reaching  Peta- 
luma, he  united  his  scattered  forces,  and  thence- 
forward dedicated  his  most  strenuous  efforts  to 
harass  the  troops  in  their  hostile  incursions  into 
that  part  of  the  country.  He  carried  on  hos- 
tilities until  he  was  so  closely  pursued  as  to  be 
compelled  to  take  refuge  in  the  Marin  isles, 
situate  at  the  mouth  of  the  inlet  San  Rafael, 
so  named  from  this  circumstance.  He  there 
defended  himself  for  some  time,  but  was  again 
taken  captive  to  San  Francisco  in  1824 ;  whence 


52 DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

being  set  at  liberty,  he  retired  to  the  mission 
of  San  Rafael,  and  there  died  in  1834. 

Sonoma. — The  name  of  this  county  is  an 
Indian  word,  signifying  "Valley  of  the  Moon," 
by  which  the  aborigines  designated  the  valley 
wherein  the  town  of  that  name  is  situated. 

The  tribe  occupying  this  valley  was  called 
Chocuyen;  but  in  1824,  on  the  arrival  there  of 
the  first  expedition  for  the  purpose  of  estab- 
lishing a  mission,  the  name  of  "Sonoma"  hav- 
ing been  given  to  their  chief  by  the  paternal 
minister,  Jose  Altimira,  the  Chocuyenes  then 
adopted  the  same,  which  they  still  retain.  This, 
as  well  as  the  other  tribes  who  occupied  the 
tract  which  now  composes  the  counties  of  Son- 
oma and  Marin,  were  dependent  on  a  great 
chief  who  bore  the  heathen  name  of  Marin 
de  Licatiut,  as  mentioned  in  the  history  of  the 
county  of  that  name. 

Sonoma  is  the  most  beautiful  and  picturesque 
valley  of  Upper  California;  and  from  its  topo- 
graphical situation,  fronting  the  bay  of  San 
Pablo,  from  its  delightful  climate,  fertile  soil, 
abundant  timber  of  all  kinds  close  by,  and  from 
its  pure  and  sweet  waters,  it  is  destined  very 
soon  to  become  one  of  the  most  populous 
parts  of  that  valuable  section  of  country.  There 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  5.3 

are  hot  springs  in  its  vicinity,  which,  from  their 
medicinal  virtues,  may  in  future  rival  those  of 
Arkansas. 

Sonoma  is  at  present  the  residence  of  the 
commander-in-chief  of  the  western  division  of 
the  army  in  California  and  Oregon. 

In  the  Pueblo  de  Sonoma,  in  fine,  there  oc- 
curred an  incident  which  will  render  the  town 
celebrated  in  the  history  of  the  country,  to  wit : 
On  the  14th  day  of  June  (of  perpetual  memory) 
a  certain  personage  ordered  a  certain  flag  to  be 
there  hoisted,  on  whose  white  surface  was  con- 
spicuously to  be  seen  a  certain  animal;  after 
other  certain  personages  had  taken  the  place  by 
surprise,  they  took  a  certain  personage  prisoner 
to  a  certain  fort,  on  the  eastern  bank  of  a  cer- 
tain river,  in  which  they  locked  him  for  two 
months;  during  which  he  was  overtaken  by  a 
certain  disease  which  prevails  there  yearly,  and 
from  which  he  was  set  at  liberty  very  nearly 
on  the  point  or  on  the  eve  of  settling  accounts 
with  a  third  personage,  whose  emblematic  figure 
throughout  the  world  is  that  of  a  skeleton  armed 
with  a  scythe  in  his  right  hand. 

Solano. — This  is  the  second  name  of  the  cele- 
brated missionary  Francisco  Solano,  and  was 
also  borne  by  the  great  chief  of  the  tribes  origi- 


54  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

nally  denominated  ' '  Suisunes, ' '  and  scattered 
over  the  western  side  of  the  river  Jesus  Maria 
(now  Sacramento).  The  residence  of  this  chief 
was  the  valley  of  Suisun,  which  is  bounded  by 
the  hill  near  Suscol.  Before  receiving  the  bap- 
tismal name  of  Solano,  the  chief  was  called 
"Sem-yeto,"  which  signifies  the  "  brave  or  fierce 
hand." 

In  1817  a  military  expedition  (under  com- 
mand of  Lieutenant  Jose  Sanchez,  and  by  order 
of  the  commandant  of  San  Francisco,  Jose 
Arguello)  crossed  the  Straits  of  Carquinez  (on 
rafts  made  of  rushes,  as  there  were  no  ferries 
or  regular  boats  in  those  days),  for  the  double 
purpose  of  exploring  the  country  and  reducing 
it  to  Christianity.  On  crossing  the  river  they 
were  attacked  by  the  Suisun  tribe,  then  headed 
by  their  chief,  Malaca,  who  caused  them  con- 
siderable loss;  the  Indians  fought  bravely  and 
to  the  utmost  extreme,  but  they  were  in  turn 
attacked  with  such  force  and  perseverance  as 
to  oblige  them  to  retreat  to  their  rancheria; 
where,  being  still  hotly  pursued  and  believing 
their  fate  sealed,  these  unfortunate  people,  in- 
cited by  their  chief,  set  fire  to  their  own  rush- 
built  huts  and  perished  in  the  flames  with  their 
families.  The  soldiers  endeavored  to  stay  their 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  55 

desperate  resolution,  in  order  to  save  the  women 
and  children;  but  even  these  preferred  this 
doom  to  that  which  awaited  them  from  the 
hands  of  their  enemies.  Thus  perished  this 
chief,  and  thus  was  his  hearth  and  the  home  of 
his  people  destroyed. 

The  town  of  Benicia,  situate  in  this  county, 
is  rapidly  increasing  in  size  and  importance, 
and  will  soon  rival  the  other  towns  that  encircle 
the  bay  of  San  Francisco.  The  American  squad- 
ron is  stationed  here,  and  many  trading  ves- 
sels lie  at  anchor.  Here  is  the  only  passage  to 
the  interior;  consequently  there  is,  perhaps,  no 
point  from  which  the  active  trade  of  the  bay 
can  be  better  observed.  There  is  in  front  of 
the  town  a  bank  or  promontory  extending  out 
one  mile,  which  precludes  the  necessity  of 
wharves. 

Tolo. — A  corruption  of  the  Indian  word 
"Yoloy,"  signifying  a  place  abounding  with 
rushes  (tular),  with  which  the  Indians  com- 
posed the  term  "Toloytoy,"  Rushtown  (Pueblo 
del  Tule),  situated  on  the  western  shore  of  the 
river  Sacramento.  The  tribe  occupying  this 
pueblo  derived  its  name  therefrom,  and  were 
the  subjects  of  a  great  chief,  who  also  ruled 
various  other  tribes  with  absolute  sway.  All 


56  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

these  tribes  were  encamped  on  the  western  banks 
of  the  Sacramento  and  its  tributaries.  The 
Christian  name  of  the  chief  was  F.  Solano,  and 
his  usual  residence  Sonoma.  In  1835,  Motti, 
captain  of  the  Yoloy  tribe,  rebelled  against  the 
superior  chief,  and  being  unsuccessfully  pur- 
sued, Solano  applied  to  the  commandant  of  So- 
noma for  assistance,  pursued  the  tribe  once 
more,  and  reduced  it  to  submission.  The  re- 
bellious leader  was  ordered  to  Sonoma,  where 
he  remained  until  the  tribe  and  chief  returned 
to  their  former  hearths  in  1846. 

Napa. — The  name  of  the  tribe  who  occupied 
the  valley  of  the  same  name.  The  meaning  of 
the  name  is  not  ascertained.  Napa  Valley  is 
fertile  and  beautiful  in  the  extreme,  possesses 
a  very  mild  climate,  and  abounds  throughout 
with  timber  of  all  kinds.  The  county,  at  the 
extreme  north,  contains  the  highlands  of  May- 
acmas,  famous  as  being  the  encampment  of  the 
Napa  tribe,  one  of  the  bravest  in  California. 
They  greatly  harassed  the  frontier  posts,  and 
were  very  numerous  up  to  the  year  1838,  when 
they  were  mostly  carried  off  by  smallpox.  Napa 
City,  situated  on  the  stream  that  crosses  the 
valley,  will  soon  be  a  flourishing  town ;  it  is 
fifteen  miles  distant  from  the  entrance  of  Napa 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  57 

Bay.  The  creation  of  this  county  is  attributable 
to  the  constant  efforts  of  Captain  J.  Brackett, 
member  of  the  Assembly  from  the  district  of 
Sonoma.  The  writer  is  impressed  with  the  be- 
lief that  the  subdivision  is  premature  and  will 
affect  the  interests  of  the  people. 

Mendocino. — In  the  year  1535  Antonio  de 
Mendoza,  first  Viceroy  of  New  Spain,  appointed 
by  the  the  Emperor,  arrived  at  the  City  of 
Mexico,  fourteen  years  after  its  conquest  or  sur- 
render, and  ordered  a  survey  of  the  coast  of 
California,  wherein  Cape  Mendocino  was  dis- 
covered, and  so  called  in  honor  of  the  Viceroy. 
Mendocino,  from  which  the  county  derives  its 
name,  is  the  patronymic  of  Mendoza. 

Sacramento. — Signifies  Sacrament,  or  Lord's 
Supper.  The  streams  known  as  Feather  and 
Sacramento  rivers  were  first  respectively  named 
by  Captain  Moraga  "Sacramento"  and  "Jesus 
Maria";  but  the  latter  now  assumes  the  name 
of  Sacramento,  whilst  the  former  is  called 
Feather.  Sacramento  is  the  principal  river  in 
all  that  section  of  country,  and  gives  name  to 
the  county.  Several  towns  are  springing  up, 
but  the  chief  one  of  the  county  is  Sacramento 
City,  situated  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the  Sacra- 
mento. This  rapidly  growing  and  flourishing 


58  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

town,  containing  a  permanent  population  of 
12,000  inhabitants,  has  sprung  up  in  the  short 
space  of  a  year.  It  contains,  besides,  multitudes 
of  transient  residents,  constantly  going  to  and 
from  the  "placeres."  Steamboats  and  numer- 
ous vessels  of  light  and  heavy  draught  are 
safely  moored  immediately  abreast  of  the  town. 

El  Dorado. — The  far-famed  fabulous  region 
of  genial  clime  and  never-fading  verdure,  where 
gold  and  precious  stones  are  as  common  as  rocks 
and  pebbles,  where  wines  gently  flow  from  foun- 
tains, where  wheat  spontaneously  grows  over- 
topped with  tiny  loaves  of  bread,  and  pigeons 
fly  about  already  roasted,  where  nature  has 
converted  the  rudest  things  into  harmony  of 
shape  and  appearance,  and  where,  in  fine,  a 
creature  of  the  genus  mulier,  full  of  sympathy 
and  grace,  trips  about  in  natural  loveliness,  the 
most  beautiful  of  God's  creations.  Francis 
Orellana,  a  companion  of  Pizarro,  first  spread 
the  account  of  the  supposed  existence  of  this 
province  in  South  America. 

As  it  is  universally  known  how  and  when  the 
discovery  was  made  that  has  caused  the  star  of 
the  west  to  spring  up  as  if  by  magic,  given  it 
the  appropriate  epithet  of  "golden,"  and  will 
eventually  revolutionize  the  world,  more  than 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS 59 

the  passing  remark  that  gold  was  first  discovered 
in  this  county  at  Sutter 's  mill,  is  here  deemed 
unnecessary.  The  county  derives  its  name  from 
this  circumstance. 

Suiter. — This  county  is  named  after  Captain 
John  Augustus  Sutter,  from  Switzerland,  and 
formerly  a  military  officer  under  Charles  X.  He 
immigrated  to  this  country  in  the  latter  part 
of  the  year  1839,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a 
colony.  With  this  object  in  view,  he  petitioned 
the  Mexican  government  for  a  grant  of  land, 
which  he  obtained,  subject  to  the  regulations 
prescribed  by  law.  He  then  fixed  the  site  of 
the  colony  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  Sacra- 
mento River,  between  its  tributaries,  known  as 
the  American  Fork  and  Cosumnes,  and  named 
it  New  Helvetia.  To  inspire  confidence  in  his 
colonists,  as  well  as  to  protect  them  against 
the  sudden  attacks  of  the  aborigines,  who  were 
very  numerous  at  that  period,  or  against  any 
surprise  whatsoever  from  any  other  power,  he 
built  a  fort  and  manned  it  with  several  pieces 
of  artillery.  The  building  is  well  known  as 
Sutter 's  Fort.  Captain  Sutter  is  the  oldest  set- 
tler in  the  valley  of  the  rushes  (valle  de  los 
tulares),  on  the  banks  of  the  Sacramento.  His 
known  enterprise,  openness,  and  urbanity  of 


60 DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

manners,  and  characteristic  hospitality  toward 
all  who  approached  his  colony,  have  commanded 
public  respect  and  gained  for  him  the  personal 
regard  of  friends.  The  former  and  present  in- 
habitants of  California,  ever  remembering  the 
name  of  Sutter,  as  now  borne  by  the  county,  will 
transmit  it  to  future  generations  and  thus  im- 
mortalize it. 

Yuba. — A  corruption  of  the  word  uba,  which 
when  pronounced  in  English,  produces  the 
sound  Yuba.  This  pronunciation  has  been  lat- 
terly so  generally  adopted  that  the  original  word 
is  now  obsolete. 

Yuba  River  is  the  chief  tributary  of  Feather 
Eiver,  and  was  called  Uba  by  an  exploring  ex- 
pedition in  1824,  from  the  immense  quantities 
of  vines  that  shaded  its  banks  and  the  neigh- 
borhood, overloaded  with  wild  grapes  (properly 
called  "uvas  silvestres"  in  Spanish).  The  coun- 
ty, which  derives  its  name  from  the  aforesaid 
river,  was  created  by  the  present  Legislature, 
in  compliance  with  the  wishes  of  the  delegates 
from  that  portion  of  the  State.  It  contains  10,- 
000  inhabitants. 

Butte. — This  is  purely  a  French  word,  sig- 
nifying hill  or  mound  of  earth.  The  high  hills 
or  peaks  situated  in  the  valley  of  the  Sacra- 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  61 

mento,  and  seen  at  a  great  distance,  were  so 
named  by  a  detachment  of  hunters,  headed  by 
Michel  La  Frambeau,  from  the  Hudson  Bay 
Company  at  Columbia  Eiver,  who  visited  this 
country  in  search  of  beaver  in  the  year  1829. 
Nine  years  previous  to  this  period  they  were 
denominated  peaks  (picachos)  by  Captain  Luis 
A.  Arguello,  who  headed  an  expedition  to  the 
Columbia  Eiver  by  order  of  the  governor  of 
the  province.  This  county  contains  these  peaks, 
and  takes  their  name. 

Colusa. — Is  purely  an  Indian  word,  being  the 
original  name  of  a  numerous  tribe  on  the  west- 
ern side  of  the  Sacramento  Biver;  its  meaning 
is  not  ascertained.  The  so-called  county  is  one 
of  the  new  counties  created  by  the  first  Legis- 
lature of  the  State. 

Shasta. — Is  the  name  of  the  tribe  residing  at 
the  foot  of  the  height  or  mountain,  remarkable 
as  being  considerably  higher  than  the  range, 
and  encircling  the  source  of  the  Sacramento 
River.  Upon  the  subdivision  of  the  State  into 
counties  Mr.  "Walthall,  member  of  the  Assembly 
of  the  delegation  from  the  district  of  Sacra- 
mento, proposed  this  name  for  the  county,  and 
it  was  adopted  by  the  Legislature.  The  moun- 
tain has  likewise  been  so  named. 


62  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

Trinidad. — Signifies  trinity.  The  Roman  Cath- 
olics annually  celebrate  a  certain  Sunday  in 
honor  of  the  Most  Holy  Trinity.  This  festival 
has  been  observed  since  the  year  1260,  when 
it  was  so  regulated  by  the  Council  of  Arlez. 

Trinity  Bay  was  so  called  from  having  been 
discovered  on  the  anniversary  of  this  festival, 
June  11, 1775,  by  the  second  naval  exploring  ex- 
pedition, consisting  of  a  frigate  in  command  of 
Captain  Bruno  Ezeta,  and  a  sloop  commanded 
by  Juan  de  la  Quadra  y  Bodega.  Hence  the 
name  of  the  county.  The  bay  has  been  newly 
surveyed  and  found  accessible.  Since  last  Jan- 
uary, rich  gold  "placeres"  have  been  discovered 
there ;  and  the  surrounding  fertile  country,  for- 
merly known  as  New  Albion,  is  now  being  set- 
tled. 

Calaveras. — This  word  signifies  skulls,  and  the 
so-called  creek,  which  gives  name  to  the  county, 
derives  its  own  name  from  the  fact  of  an  im- 
mense number  of  skulls  having  been  found  lying 
in  its  vicinity  from  time  immemorial.  Accord- 
ing to  the  diary  of  Captain  Moraga,  who  headed 
the  first  incursions  made  on  the  Sacramento 
and  San  Joaquin  rivers,  and  the  Sierra  Nevada, 
the  chiefs  of  the  tribes  encamped  on  these  rivers 
made  war  against  the  tribes  of  the  Sierra,  who 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  63 

came  down  to  fish  for  salmon,  with  which  those 
rivers  abound.  This  was  considered  a  trespass 
on  rights  acquired  by  occupation,  and  war  was 
in  consequence  declared  between  the  tribes  of 
the  valley  and  those  of  the  Sierra,  during  which 
a  sanguinary  battle  was  fought  near  the  creek 
Calaveras.  The  tribes  of  the  valley  were  vic- 
torious, and  more  than  three  thousand  killed 
on  both  sides  remained  on  the  field.  Hence  the 
name  of  the  creek  as  given  by  Captain  Moraga. 

This  is  one  of  the  counties  abounding  in  gold 
mines,  and  has  a  population  of  about  15,000. 

San  Joaquin. — The  meaning  of  this  name  has 
a  very  ancient  origin  in  reference  to  the  parent- 
age of  Mary,  the  mother  of  Christ.  According 
to  divine  revelations,  Joachim  signifies  "prepa- 
ration of  the  Lord/'  and  hence  the  belief  that 
Joaquin,  who  in  the  course  of  time  was  ad- 
mitted into  the  pale  of  sanctity,  was  the  father 
of  Mary.  In  1813,  commanding  an  exploring 
expedition  to  the  valley  of  the  rushes  (valle  de 
los  tulares),  Lieutenant  Gabriel  Moraga  gave 
the  appellation  of  San  Joaquin  to  a  rivulet 
which  springs  from  the  Sierra  Nevada  and  emp- 
ties into  Lake  Buena  Vista.  The  river  San 
Joaquin  derives  its  name  from  the  rivulet,  and 
baptizes  the  county  with  the  same. 


64 DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

Stockton  (named  in  honor  of  Commodore 
Stockton)  is  a  highly  flourishing  town  and  the 
seat  of  justice  in  the  county.  It  contains  about 
2,500  inhabitants.  Pleasantly  situated  on  a 
slough  of  the  San  Joaquin  River,  on  a  plain, 
thinly  overspread  with  oak  and  shrubbery,  and 
within  a  day  or  two  from  some  of  the  rich 
"placeres,"  it  is  destined  to  become  the  city  of 
the  San  Joaquin,  notwithstanding  the  absolute 
lack  of  poetry  in  its  name. 

Tuolumne. — A  corruption  of  the  Indian  word 
"talmalamne,"  which  signifies  cluster  of  stone 
wigwams.  The  county  abounds  in  gold  "pla- 
ceres."  Throughout  its  rivers  and  hollows, 
throughout  its  valley  and  hills,  gold,  gold,  and 
more  gold  is  found. 

Mr.  Benjamin  S.  Lippincott,  Senator  from 
the  district  of  San  Joaquin,  hailing  from  per- 
haps the  richest  county  in  the  State  in  the  pre- 
cious metal,  has  exerted  an  influence  in  its  cre- 
ation. The  county  seems  to  be  an  integral  por- 
tion of  the  "El  Dorado,"  which  has  been  for 
years  so  eagerly  sought  for  by  every  lover  of 
gold.  Tuolumne  City  is  just  springing  up,  and 
it  is  believed  will  shortly  be  a  sort  of  "Jauja," 
the  golden  city  of  the  fabulous  region  where 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  65 

rivers  of  milk  and  of  honey  flowed,  and  fari- 
naceous fruits  grew  spontaneously. 

Mariposa. — The  name  of  this  county  signifies 
butterfly.  In  the  month  of  June,  1807 — in  one 
of  their  yearly  excursions  to  the  valley  of  the 
rushes  (valle  de  los  tulares)  with  a  view  to 
hunt  elks — a  party  of  Californians  pitched  their 
tents  on  a  stream  at  the  foot  of  the  Sierra  Ne- 
vada, and  whilst  there,  myriads  of  butterflies, 
of  the  most  gorgeous  and  variegated  colors, 
clustered  on  the  surrounding  trees,  and  at- 
tracted their  attention,  from  which  circum- 
stance they  gave  the  stream  'the  appella- 
tion of  Mariposa.  Hence  Mariposa  Eiver,  from 
which  the  country  (also  heavily  laden  with  the 
precious  metal)  derives  its  poetical  name. 


Origin  and  Meaning  of  the  Names 
of  the  Counties  of  California 


(By  Prentiss  Maslin.  California  Blue  Book.) 
Alameda  County. — Created  March  25,  1853. 
The  Spanish  word  "Alameda"  means  "a  public 
walk  or  promenade  in  the  shade  of  trees. ' '  Lit- 
erally, it  comes  from  Alamo,  the  poplar  or  cot- 
tonwood  tree,  and  it  is  from  the  derived  mean- 
ing of  the  word,  "a  public  walk,"  that  this 
county  obtained  its  name. 

Alpine  County. — Created  March  16,  1864. 
This  county  derived  its  name  from  the  English 
word  "Alpine,"  meaning,  "of,  pertaining  to, 
or  connected  with,  the  Alps."  Its  geographical 
position,  lying  as  it  does  on  the  crest  of  the 
Sierra  Nevada  Mountains,  made  it  particularly 
an  alpine  county,  and  hence  its  name. 

Amador  County. — Created  May  11,  1854.  The 
meaning  of  this  word  in  Spanish  is  "lover  of 
inanimate  objects."  This  county  most  prob- 
ably derived  its  name  from  either  Sergeant 
Pedro  Amador  or  from  Jose  Maria  Amador, 


68  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

his  son.  Sergeant  Pedro  Amador  was  one  of 
the  prominent  settlers  of  California.  He  was 
an  adventurer  and  a  soldier  in  the  Spanish 
army,  coming  to  California  in  1771  and  after 
serving  in  San  Diego  and  Santa  Barbara  was 
transferred  to  San  Francisco,  and  died  in  San 
Jose  April  10,  1824,  at  the  age  of  82  years. 
His  son,  Jose  Maria,  was  born  in  San  Francisco 
on  December  18,  1794,  and  was  also  a  soldier 
and  a  renowned  Indian  fighter.  He  obtained  a 
large  grant  from  the  Mexican  government,  and 
after  the  discovery  of  gold  forsook  pastoral 
pursuits  and  went  to  the  Southern  mines,  where 
he  greatly  increased  his  fortune.  He  was  living 
as  late  as  1883. 

Butte  County.— Created  February  18,  1850. 
This  is  one  of  the  original  twenty-seven  counties 
of  the  State  of  California,  and  derived  its  name 
from  that  wonderful  topographical  formation, 
now  known  as  the  Marysville  or  Sutter  Buttes, 
which  lie  in  Sutter  County  and  which  were 
named  by  Michel  La  Frambeau  of  the  Hudson 
Bay  Company,  who  visited  the  northern  part  of 
California  as  a  voyageur  and  trapper  in  the 
year  1829.  The  word  "butte"  is  purely  a  French 
word,  and  signifies  "a  small  hill  or  mound  of 
earth  detached  from  any  mountain  range." 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  69 

Calaveras  County. — Created  February  18, 
1850.  One  of  the  original  twenty-seven  counties 
of  California.  The  meaning  of  "Calaveras"  is 
"skulls,"  and  the  county  derived  its  name  from 
Calaveras  Creek,  which  was  so  named  by  Cap- 
tain Moraga  of  the  Mexican  army,  who  headed 
the  first  exploring  expedition  of  the  Sacramento 
and  San  Joaquin  rivers  and  into  the  Sierra  Ne- 
vada Mountains,  from  the  fact  that  he  found 
a  large  number  of  skulls  lying  along  the  banks 
of  the  creek.  According  to  the  diary  of  Cap- 
tain Moraga,  the  history  of  this  abundance  of 
skulls  is  that  the  tribes  who  lived  on  the  Sacra- 
mento and  San  Joaquin  rivers  made  a  des- 
perate war  against  the  tribes  of  the  Sierra,  who 
annually  came  down  to  fish  for  salmon  in  these 
rivers.  This  was  considered  in  the  light  of  a 
trespass,  inasmuch  as  the  Sierra  tribes  refused 
to  allow  the  valley  tribes  to  go  into  the  moun- 
tains to  hunt  deer  and  gather  acorns.  In  a 
most  sanguinary  battle  fought  near  this  creek, 
the  tribes  of  the  valley  were  victorious,  and 
more  than  three  thousand  Indians  were  killed. 
Hence,  the  name  of  the  creek,  from  which  the 
county  subsequently  derived  its  name. 

Colusa  County. — Created  February  18,  1850. 
This  is  one  of  the  original  twenty-seven  coun- 


70  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

ties  of  the  State  of  California.  The  name  of 
this  county  in  the  original  act  of  1850  was 
spelled  "Colusi,"  and  ofttimes  in  newspapers 
was  spelled  "Coluse,"  and  was  the  name  of  an 
Indian  tribe  living  on  the  west  side  of  the  Sac- 
ramento Eiver.  The  meaning  of  the  word  ' '  Co- 
lusa"  has  never  been  determined. 

ED.  NOTE. — Hon.  John  P.  Irish,  former  Naval 
Officer  at  San  Francisco,  writes  as  follows  re- 
garding the  name  of  this  county : 

"Reading  the  derivation  of  the  names  of  Cali- 
fornia counties,  written  by  Mr.  Prentiss  Maslin, 
I  note  that  he  finds  no  meaning  or  translation 
of  the  Indian  word  'Colusa,'  the  title  of  the 
tribe  from  which  the  county  was  named.  The 
late  General  Will  Green,  who  went  there  while 
the  tribe  was  still  a  strong  body  and  associated 
with  them  so  much  as  to  acquire  a  knowledge 
and  quite  free  use  of  their  language,  told  me 
that  the  word  'Colusa'  means  'scratcher.'  When 
a  member  of  the  tribe  married,  it  was  the  privi- 
lege of  the  bride  to  begin  the  honeymoon  by 
scratching  her  husband's  face.  The  young 
women  so  uniformly  availed  themselves  of  this 
privilege  that  a  newly  married  man  was  always 
known  by  the  deep  scratches  upon  his  face  in- 
flicted by  his  wife.  From  this  tribal  custom  the 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  71 

tribe  was  known  as  Colusa  or  the  scratchers. 
General  Green  was  always  so  correct  in  the 
knowledge  he  acquired  and  imparted  as  to  such 
matters  that  I  am  very  certain  this  is  the  exact 
and  correct  meaning  of  the  word  ' Colusa.'  " 

Contra  Costa  County. — Created  February  18, 
1850.  One  of  the  original  twenty-seven  coun- 
ties of  the  State  of  California.  This  county 
originally  included  what  is  now  known  as  Ala- 
meda  County,  and  because  of  its  relationship  to 
San  Francisco  County,  on  the  west  side  of 
San  Francisco  Bay,  it  was  called  Contra  Costa, 
or  "opposite  coast,"  lying  as  it  does  on  the  op- 
posite coast  or  eastern  shore  of  San  Francisco 
Bay. 

Del  Norte  County. — Created  March  2,  1857. 
The  name  of  this  county  signifies  "the  north/' 
and  the  county  being  situated  in  the  extreme 
north  (west)  corner  of  the  State  of  California, 
derived  its  name  from  its  geographical  position. 

El  Dorado  County. — Created  February  18, 
1850.  This  is  one  of  the  original  twenty-seven 
counties  of  the  State  of  California.  Francis 
Orellana,  a  companion  of  the  adventurer  Pi- 
zarro,  wrote  a  fictitious  account  of  a  wonderful 
province  in  South  America,  of  a  fabulous  re- 


72  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

gion  of  genial  clime  and  never-fading  verdure, 
abounding  in  gold  and  precious  stones,  where 
wine  gushed  forth  from  never-ceasing  springs, 
and  wheat  fields  grew  ready-baked  loaves  of 
bread,  and  birds  already  roasted  flew  among 
the  trees,  and  nature  was  filled  with  harmony 
and  sweetness.  From  this  description,  a  gold- 
bearing  belt  was  called  El  Dorado,  as  in  later 
days  it  has  been  called  Klondike.  So  when  the 
discovery  of  gold  by  James  W.  Marshall  at 
Coloma  in  January,  1848,  became  known  to  the 
world,  California,  and  particularly  that  part 
where  gold  was  discovered,  was  called  "El  Do- 
rado/ '  and  it  was  from  this  fact  that  the  coun- 
ty was  given  its  name  upon  its  creation. 

Fresno  County. — Created  April  19,  1856.  The 
word  " Fresno "  in  Spanish  signifies  "ash  tree/' 
and  it  was  because  of  the  abundance  of  moun- 
tain ash  in  the  mountains  of  this  county  that 
it  received  its  name. 

Glenn  County.— Created  March  11,  1891.  This 
county  was  created  out  of  the  northern  portion 
of  Colusa  County,  and  derived  its  name  from 
Dr.  Hugh  J.  Glenn,  who,  during  his  lifetime, 
was  the  largest  wheat  farmer  in  the  State,  and 
a  man  of  great  prominence  in  political  and  com- 
mercial life  in  California. 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  73 

Humboldt  County. — Created  May  12,  1853. 
This  county  derived  its  name  from  Humboldt 
Bay  which  was  named  for  Baron  Alexander  von 
Humboldt,  the  eminent  scientist,  by  Captain  Ot- 
tinger  of  the  ship  " Laura  Virginia." 

Imperial  County. — Created  August  15,  1907. 
It  derived  its  name  from  the  Imperial  Valley, 
situated  therein. 

Inyo  County.— Created  March  22,  1866.  This 
county  derived  its  name  from  a  tribe  of  Indians 
who  inhabited  that  part  of  the  Sierra  Nevada 
Mountains.  The  meaning  of  thip  word  has 
never  been  determined. 

Kern  County.— Created  April  2,  1866.  This 
county  derived  its  name  from  the  Kern  River, 
which  was  named  for  the  lieutenant  by  that 
name  of  General  John  C.  Fremont's  third  ex- 
pedition in  1845-47. 

Kings  County.— Created  March  22,  1893.  This 
county  was  created  out  of  the  western  part  of 
Tulare  County,  and  derived  its  name  from  Kings 
"River,  which,  according  to  history  and  tradi- 
tion, was  discovered  in  1805  by  an  exploring  ex- 
pedition and  named  Eio  de  los  Santos  Reyes 
(the  "river  of  the  holy  kings"),  from  which 
it  obtained  its  present  name. 


74 DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

Lake  County.— Created  May  20,  1861.  This 
county  derived  its  name  because  of  the  many 
charming  lakes  that  are  within  its  boundaries. 

Lassen  County. — Created  April  1,  1864.  The 
name  of  this  county  was  derived  from  Mount 
Lassen,  which  was  named  for  Peter  Lassen,  a 
native  of  Switzerland,  one  of  General  Fremont's 
guides  and  a  famous  trapper,  frontiersman,  and 
Indian  fighter,  who  was  killed  by  the  Piutes 
at  the  base  of  this  mountain  in  1859. 

Los  Angeles  County. — Created  February  18, 
1850.  This  county  was  one  of  the  original 
twenty-seven  counties  of  the  State  of  Califor- 
nia. The  words  "Los  Angeles"  literally  mean 
"the  angels,"  and  are  a  contraction  of  the  orig- 
inal name  "Pueblo  del  Eio  de  Nuetra  Senora 
La  Reina  de  Los  Angeles  de  Poreiuncula"  (the 
town  of  the  river  of  Our  Lady,  Queen  of  the 
Angels).  It  will  therefore  be  observed  that  Los 
Angeles  was  really  named  for  the  Virgin  Mary, 
commonly  called  "Our  Lady  of  the  Angels"  by 
the  Spanish.  On  September  7,  1781,  Governor 
Felipe  de  Neve  issued  orders  from  the  San 
Gabriel  Mission  for  the  establishment  of  a  pue- 
blo on  El  Rio  Nuestra  Senora  de  Los  Angeles 
and  under  the  protection  of  Nuestra  Senora  La 
Reina  de  Los  Angelef  (Our  Lady,  Queen  of  the 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  75 

Angels),  the  mission  by  this  name  having  been 
dedicated  three  days  before,  having  practically 
the  same  title.  This  pueblo  in  time  became 
known  as  the  Ciudad  de  Los  Angeles,  "the  City 
of  the  Angels,"  and  it  is  from  this  that  the 
county  derived  its  patronymic. 

Madera  County. — Created  March  11,  1893. 
"Madera"  in  Spanish  signifies  "timber,"  and 
the  county  derived  its  name  from  the  town  of 
Madera,  situated  within  its  limits,  which  town 
was  originally  surrounded  by  groves  of  trees. 

Marin  County. — Created  February  18,  1850. 
This  county  is  one  of  the  original  twenty-seven 
counties  of  the  State  of  California,  and  derived 
its  name  from  Chief  Marin,  of  the  Licatiut  tribe 
of  Indians,  who  inhabited  that  section  of  Cali- 
fornia. In  1815,  a  military  expedition  of  the 
Spanish  proceeded  to  explore  the  country  north 
of  the  bay  of  San  Francisco.  This  action  aroused 
the  ire  of  the  Licatiut  tribe,  and  a  desperate 
engagement  was  fought  in  the  valley  now  known 
as  the  Petaluma  Valley.  Chief  Marin  led  the 
forces  of  the  Indians  with  wonderful  strategy 
and  bravery  that  called  forth  the  admiration  of 
his  enemies.  At  the  same  time,  his  sub-chief 
Quentin  gave  battle  to  a  second  division  of  the 
Spanish  army  at  the  point  which  still  bears  his 


76  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

name,  Punta  de  la  Quentin.  Chief  Marin  after- 
wards was  christianized  and  baptized  under  the 
name  of  "Marinero,"  "the  Mariner,"  by  the 
padres,  because  of  the  fact  of  his  intimate 
knowledge  of  the  bay  of  San  Francisco,  on 
which  he  often  acted  as  ferryman  for  the  whites. 

Mariposa  County. — Created  February  18, 
1850.  One  of  the  original  twenty-seven  counties 
of  the  State  of  California.  This  county  took  its 
name  from  the  Mariposa  River.  The  meaning 
of  "Mariposa"  in  the  language  of  the  Spanish 
is  "butterfly."  There  is  some  doubt  as  to  how 
this  stream  derived  its  name.  According  to  one 
story,  in  June,  1807,  a  party  of  Californians 
from  the  San  Joaquin  Valley  made  one  of  their 
annual  excursions  into  the  Sierra  Nevada 
Mountains  for  the  purpose  of  hunting  elk. 
Camping  upon  the  banks  of  a  river,  they  were 
charmed  and  delighted  with  the  butterflies  of 
most  gorgeous  and  variegated  colors  that  'hov- 
ered around  them  in  countless  numbers,  and 
because  of  this  they  gave  to  the  stream  the  name 
"Mariposa."  Another  beautiful  story,  and 
probably  more  authentic,  is  that  the  first  ex- 
plorers in  the  mountains  of  that  region  beheld 
for  the  first  time  a  beautiful  lily  growing  ev- 
erywhere, gay-colored,  spotted,  and  in  some  re- 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  77 

spects  resembling  the  wings  of  a  butterfly.  In 
their  admiration,  they  gave  to  this  dainty  flower, 
the  Calochortus,  the  name  of  Mariposa  (but- 
terfly) lily. 

Mendocino  County. — Created  February  18, 
1850.  One  of  the  original  twenty-seven  coun- 
ties of  the  State  of  California.  This  county 
derived  its  name  from  Cape  Mendocino,  which 
was  discovered  and  named  by  Juan  Rodriguez 
Cabrillo  in  1542,  and  named  for  Don  Antonio 
de  Mendoza,  the  first  Viceroy  of  N$w  Spain, 
or  Mexico,  appointed  by  the  King  of  Spain  in 
1535. 

Merced  County. — Created  April  19,  1855. 
This  county  derived  its  name  from  the  Merced 
River,  which  was  originally  named  by  the  Span- 
ish "Rio  de  Nuestra  Senora  de  la  Merced," 
meaning  "the  river  of  Our  Lady  of  Mercy. " 

Modoc  County. — Created  February  17,  1874. 
This  county  derived  its  name  from  a  fierce  tribe 
of  Indians  by  that  name,  which  means  "the 
head  of  the  river,"  and  who  lived  at  the  head- 
waters of  the  Pitt  River. 

NOTE — Gen.  0.  0.  Howard,  in  an  article  in 
the  St.  Nicholas  magazine  for  May,  1908,  page 
624,  states  that  the  Indian  name  of  the  tribe  of 


78  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

which  the  name  Modoe  is  a  corruption  is  "Mak- 
laks,"  and  means  "The  People." 

Mono  County.— Created  April  24,  1861.  The 
name  of  this  county  is  a  Spanish  word  mean- 
ing "monkey,"  and  was  applied  to  an  Indian 
tribe  living  in  that  section  of  the  State. 

Monterey  County. — Created  February  18, 
1850.  This  county  is  one  of  the  original  twen- 
ty-seven counties  of  the  State  of  California.  It 
derived  its  name  from  the  bay  of  Monterey.  The 
word  itself  is  composed  of  the  Spanish  words 
"monte"  and  "rey,"  and  literally  means  "king 
of  the  forest."  The  bay  was  discovered  by  Se- 
bastian Vizcaino  in  1603,  and  named  in  honor 
of  his  friend  and  patron,  Gaspar  de  Zufiiga, 
Count  of  Monterey  and  Viceroy  of  Mexico. 

Napa  County. — Created  February  18,  1850. 
One  of  the  original  twenty-seven  counties  of 
the  State  of  California.  The  word  "Napa" 
means,  in  the  language  of  a  large  and  power- 
ful tribe  of  Indians  that  lived  in  that  section 
of  California,  "fish,"  because  of  the  myriads 
of  fish  that  inhabited  the  Napa  River  and  other 
creeks  of  this  section.  This  tribe  of  Indians 
were  nearly  exterminated  by  smallpox  in  1838, 
and  now  the  only  evidence  of  their  ever  having 
existed  is  the  name  given  to  this  county. 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  79 

Nevada  County. — Created  April  25,  1851. 
The  word  "Nevada"  in  Spanish  means 
"snowy."  The  county  derived  its  name  from 
the  fact  of  the  perpetual  snow-capped  moun- 
tains within  its  boundaries. 

Orange  County. — Created  March  11,  1889. 
This  county  was  given  its  name  by  the  Legis- 
lature because  of  the  orange  groves  for  which  it 
is  justly  famous. 

Placer  County. — Created  April  25,  1851, 
"Placer"  is  probably  a  contraction  of  the  words 
"plaza  de  oro,"  the  place  of  gold,  and  means  in 
Spanish  "a  place  near  a  river  where  gold  is 
found."  The  county  derived  its  name  from 
the  numerous  places  therein  where  that  method 
of  extracting  the  gold  from  the  earth,  called 
placer  mining,  was  practiced. 

Plumas  County. — Created  March  18,  1854. 
The  Spanish  originally  called  one  of  the  tribu- 
taries of  the  Sacramento  River,  Rio  de  las  Plu- 
mas, or  the  "River  of  the  Feathers."  The 
Americans  subsequently  robbed  this  river  of  its 
beautiful  name,  by  changing  its  euphonious 
Spanish  title  to  the  English  equivalent,  the 
Feather  River,  but  the  Legislature,  in  creating 
this  county,  gave  thereto  the  name  of  "Plumas," 
because  of  the  fact  that  all  of  the  numerous 


80 DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

branches  of  the  Feather  River  have  their  origin 
in  the  mountains  of  this  county. 

Riverside  County. — Created  March  11,  1893. 
This  county  was  created  from  San  Diego  and 
San  Bernardino  counties,  and  derived  its  name 
from  the  town  of  Riverside. 

Sacramento  County. — Created  February  18, 
1850.  This  county  is  one  of  the  original  twen- 
ty-seven counties  of  the  State  of  California. 
"Sacramento"  signifies  "Sacrament,  or  Lord's 
Supper."  Captain  Moraga  first  gave  the  name 
"Jesus  Maria"  (Jesus  Mary)  to  the  main  river, 
and  the  name  "Sacramento"  to  a  branch  there- 
of. Later,  the  main  river  became  known  as  the 
Sacramento,  while  the  branch  became  known  as 
El  Rio  de  las  Plumas,  or  Feather  River. 

San  Benito  County. — Created  February  12, 
1874.  Crespi  in  his  expedition  in  1772  named 
a  small  river  in  honor  of  San  Benedicto  (Saint 
Benedict,  "the  Blessed"),  the  patron  saint  of 
the  married,  and  it  is  from  the  contraction  of 
the  name  of  this  beloved  saint  that  this  county 
took  its  name. 

San  Bernardino  County. — Created  April  26, 
1853.  Saint  Bernard  is  the  patron  saint  of 
mountain  passes.  The  name  "Bernardino" 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  81 

means  "bold  as  a  bear.'*  The  Spanish  gave  to 
the  snow-capped  peak  in  Southern  California 
the  name  of  San  Bernardino  in  honor  of  the 
saint,  and  from  this  the  county  derived  its  name. 
San  Diego  County. — Created  February  18, 
1850.  One  of  the  original  twenty-seven  coun- 
ties of  the  State  of  California.  On  November 
12,  1603,  the  day  of  San  Diego  de  Alcala  (Saint 
James  of  Alcala),  Sebastian  Vizcaino  anchored 
his  fleet  in  the  bay  of  San  Diego,  and  named 
the  same  in  honor  of  the  day,  as  well  as  in  honor 
of  his  flagship,  which  name  has  since  been  re- 
tained, although  Juan  Rodriguez  Cabrillo  named 
this  bay  San  Miguel  on  September  28,  1542, 
sixty-one  years  previous;  and  it  is  from  this 
bay  that  the  county  derived  its  name. 

San  Francisco  County. — Created  February 
18,  1850.  This  county  is  one  of  the  original 
twenty-seven  counties  of  the  State  of  California. 
The  sixth  mission  in  California  was  established 
by  Padre  Junipero  Serra  October  9,  1776,  and 
was  named  "Mission  San  Francisco  de  Asis  a 
la  Laguna  de  los  Dolores."  (Saint  Francis  of 
Assisi  at  the  Lagoon  of  Sorrows),  and  to  this 
mission  San  Francisco  owes  its  name. 

San  Joaquin  County. — Created  February  18, 
1850.  This  is  one  of  the  original  twenty-seven 


82 DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

counties  of  the  State  of  California.  The  meaning 
of  the  name  of  this  county  has  a  very  ancient 
origin  and  refers  to  the  parentage  of  Mary, 
the  mother  of  Christ.  According  to  tradition, 
Joachim  signifies  "whom  Jehovah  hath  ap- 
pointed," and  hence  the  belief  that  Joaquin, 
the  Spanish  spelling  for  Joachim,  was  the  father 
of  Mary.  In  1813,  Lieutenant  Moraga,  com- 
manding an  expedition  in  the  lower  great  cen- 
tral valley  of  California,  gave  to  a  small  rivu- 
let, which  springs  from  the  Sierra  Nevada  Moun- 
tains and  empties  into  Buena  Vista  Lake,  the 
name  of  San  Joaquin,  and  it  is  from  this  that 
the  present  river  derived  its  name,  which  in  turn 
baptized  the  county  with  the  same. 

San  Luis  OHspo  County. — Created  February 
18,  1850.  One  of  the  original  twenty-seven  coun- 
ties of  the  State  of  California.  On  September 
1,  1772,  the  Mission  San  Luis  Obispo  (Saint 
Louis  the  Bishop)  was  established  and  was 
named  for  Saint  Louis,  the  Bishop  of  Toulouse. 
He  was  the  son  of  Charles  of  Anjou,  King  of 
Naples,  and  the  county  derived  its  name  from 
this  mission,  founded  by  the  padres,  Junipero 
Serra  and  Jose  Cavalier. 

San  Mateo  County. — Created  April  19,  1856. 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  83 

This  county  bears  the  Spanish  name  of  Saint 
Matthew,  "the  gift  of  Jehovah." 

Santa  Barbara  County. — Created  February 
18,  1850.  This  county  is  one  of  the  original 
twenty-seven  counties  of  the  State  of  Califor- 
nia. Saint  Barbara  is  the  patron  saint  of  the 
sailors,  and  gives  them  special  protection  from 
deadly  lightning  and  fires  at  sea.  For  this 
reason  her  name  is  frequently  seen  over  the 
powder  magazines  on  board  of  war  vessels. 
Santa  Barbara  received  this  name  from  Se- 
bastian Vizcaino,  when  he  sailed  over  these 
waters  on  that  Saint's  Day,  December  4,  1603; 
and  when  Padre  Junipero  Serra  established  a 
mission  near  this  channel  on  December  4,  1786, 
he  named  it  Santa  Barbara,  Virgen  y  Martir 
(Saint  Barbara,  Virgin  and  Martyr).  It  is 
from  these  two  sources  that  the  county  derived 
its  name. 

Santa  Clara  County. — Created  February  18, 
1850.  One  of  the  original  twenty-seven  counties 
of  the  State  of  California.  On  January  12, 
1777,  Mission  Santa  Clara  was  established,  and 
named  for  Saint  Clara  of  Assisi,  Italy,  the  first 
Franciscan  nun  and  founder  of  the  Order  of 
Saint  Clara.  Her  name  ' '  Clara ' '  means  *  *  clear ' ' 
or  " bright/'  and  according  to  the  Eoman  Book 


84  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

of  Martyrs,  as  Hortalana,  the  pious  mother  of 
this  nun,  was  once  kneeling  before  a  crucifix, 
praying,  that  she  might  be  happily  delivered 
of  her  unborn  babe,  she  heard  a  voice  whisper- 
ing, "Fear  not,  woman,  thou  wilt  safely  bring 
forth";  whereupon  a  brilliant  light  suddenly 
illumined  the  place,  and  the  mother,  inspired 
by  the  mysterious  prediction,  baptized  her  child 
Clara,  which  is  the  feminine  of  the  word  mean- 
ing clear  or  bright.  Clara  was  afterwards  sanc- 
tified on  account  of  her  many  eminent  virtues, 
and  accordingly  venerated  by  the  Catholics  in 
all  Eoman  Catholic  churches,  and  canonized 
under  the  name  Saint  Clara. 

Santa  Cruz  County. — Created  February  18, 
1850.  This  is  one  of  the  original  twenty-seven 
counties  of  the  State  of  California.  "Santa" 
is  the  Spanish  feminine  of  "Saint"  or  "holy"; 
"Cruz"  is  the  Spanish  for  "cross,"  and  "Santa 
Cruz"  signifies  "holy  cross,"  which  emblem 
was  to  the  devout  explorers  of  California  what 
it  was  to  the  Crusaders.  Those  who  fell  by  the 
wayside  had  a  rude  cross  erected  over  them  to 
mark  their  last  resting-place;  if  anything  not- 
able occurred  in  any  of  the  expeditions,  a  cross 
was  set  up,  and  all  that  marked  the  site  of  the 
mission  which  was  founded  by  Padres  Lopez 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  85 

and  Salazar  on  September  25,  1791,  was  the 
memorial  cross  erected  to  mark  this  site.  From 
this  the  county  derived  its  name. 

Shasta  County. — Created  February  18,  1850. 
This  county  is  one  of  the  original  twenty-seven 
counties  of  the  State  of  California.  The  deriva- 
tion of  the  name  of  the  county,  which  was  taken 
from  the  butte  of  that  name,  is  in  doubt.  Some 
authorities  claim  the  name  " Shasta"  to  be  de- 
rived from  Shas-ti-ka,  the  name  of  a  tribe  of 
Indians  that  lived  at  the  base  of  this  mountain. 
The  word  "Shas-ti-ka"  means  "stone  house  or 
cave  dwellers."  Other  authorities  claim  that 
the  word  "Shasta"  is  a  corruption  of  the  French 
word  "chaste,"  and  was  first  applied  by  ex- 
plorers because  of  the  wonderful  whiteness  or 
chastity  of  the  eternal  snow  that  caps  the  sum- 
mit of  this  wonderful  peat. 

Sierra  County. — Created  April  16,  1852. 
"Sierra"  is  the  Spanish  word  for  "saw,"  and 
was  applied  to  the  chain  of  mountains,  Sierra 
Nevada,  meaning  "snow  saw,"  because  of  the 
jagged,  serrated  or  saw-tooth  peaks  which  form 
the  sky  line  of  this  range  of  mountains,  and  the 
county  that  bears  the  name  "Sierra"  was  so 
called  because  of  the  jagged  peaks  within  its 
borders. 


86  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

Siskiyou  County. — Created  March  22,  1852. 
The  word  Siskiyou  has  never  been  authentically 
determined.  It  has  generally  been  assumed  that 
this  is  the  name  of  a  tribe  of  Indians  inhabiting 
this  region,  but  there  are  several  stories  regard- 
ing its  derivation  and  meaning.  Senator  Jacob 
R.  Snyder  of  San  Francisco,  who  advocated 
the  formation  of  this  county,  in  an  argument 
delivered  April  14,  1852,  in  the  Senate  of  the 
State  of  California,  stated  that  the  French 
name  "Six  Callieux"  was  given  to  a  ford  on 
the  TJmpqua  River,  at  which  place  Michel  La 
Frambeau,  who  led  a  party  of  Hudson  Bay  Com- 
pany trappers,  crossed  in  the  year  1832.  Six 
large  stones  or  rocks  lay  in  the  river  where 
they  crossed,  and  they  gave  it  the  name  of  "Six 
Callieux"  or  "Six-stone  Ford,"  and  from  this 
the  mountain  or  butte  derived  its  name,  which 
was  subsequently  given  to  the  county  when 
created. 

Solano  County. — Created  February  18,  1850. 
This  county  is  one  of  the  original  twenty-seven 
counties  of  the  State  of  California.  "Solano" 
in  Spanish  means  "east  wind,"  and  was  the 
second  name  of  the  celebrated  missionary  Fran- 
cisco Solano.  When  the  chief  of  the  powerful 
tribe  of  Suisunes  Indians,  which  inhabited  the 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  87 

west  side  of  the  River  Jesus  Maria,  was  chris- 
tianized, he  was  by  this  missionary  baptized 
Solano,  and  as  his  residence  was  in  the  valley 
of  Suisun,  the  name  Solano  was  given  to  this 
county. 

Sonoma  County. — Created  February  18,  1850. 
This  county  is  one  of  the  original  twenty-seven 
counties  of  the  State  of  California.  "Sonoma" 
is  an  Indian  word  meaning  "valley  of  the 
moon,"  because  of  the  resemblance  of  this  val- 
ley to  the  shape  of  that  orb.  In  1824,  when 
Padre  Jose  Actimira  baptized  the  chief  of  the 
Cho-cuy-en  Indians,  he  gave  him  the  baptismal 
name  of  Sonoma,  and  from  this  source  the  coun- 
ty derived  its  name. 

Stanislaus  County. — Created  April  1,  1854. 
Chief  Estanislao,  of  a  powerful  tribe  of  Indians 
who  lived  on  what  is  known  now  as  the  Stanis- 
laus Eiver,  but  by  the  Indians  called  the  La- 
kish-um-na,  was  educated  at  the  Mission  San 
Jose.  He  became  a  renegade  and  incited  his 
tribe  against  the  Spaniards,  but  was  defeated 
in  1826  in  a  fierce  battle  on  this  river,  which 
was  afterwards  called  Stanislaus  for  the  de- 
feated Indian  chief.  It  is  from  this  river  that 
the  county  derived  its  name. 


88  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

Suiter  County. — Created  February  18,  1850. 
This  is  one  of  the  original  twenty-seven  coun- 
ties of  the  State  of  California.  Sutter  County 
was  named  after  General  John  Augustus  Sut- 
ter, a  native  of  Switzerland,  and  a  soldier  of 
fortune.  He  first  arrived  in  San  Francisco  July 
2,  1839,  obtained  a  large  grant  from  the  Mexi- 
can government,  and  called  his  first  settlement 
New  Helvetia,  which  is  now  the  city  of  Sacra- 
mento. 

Tehama  County.— Created  April  9, 1856.  "Te- 
hama"  is  the  name  of  a  tribe  of  Indians  which 
originally  inhabited  that  part  of  the  State  which 
now  bears  its  name.  The  meaning  of  the  word 
has  never  been  determined. 

Trinity  County. — Created  February  18,  1850. 
This  is  one  of  the  original  twenty-seven  coun- 
ties of  the  State  of  California.  This  county 
derived  its  name  from  Trinidad  Bay,  which  was 
discovered  and  named  by  Captain  Bruno  Ezeta 
on  June  11,  1775,  a  date  that  happened  to  be 
Trinity  Sunday.  The  Spanish  charts  of  the 
bay  were  misleading,  and  Major  Reading  and 
others  thought  that  the  river  he  named  Trinity 
emptied  into  this  bay. 

Tulare  County.— Created  April  20,  1852. 
Commandante  Fages,  while  hunting  for  desert- 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  89 

ers  in  1773,  discovered  a  great  lake  surrounded 
by  marshes  and  filled  with  rushes,  which  he 
named  Los  Tules  (the  tules,  Scirpus  lacrustus). 
In  1813,  Captain  Moraga  on  his  exploring  ex- 
pedition passed  through  the  valley  of  this  lake, 
and  named  it  "Valle  de  los  Tules"  (valley  of 
the  tules),  from  which  this  county  takes  its 
name. 

Tuolumne  County. — Created  February  18, 
1850.  This  county  is  one  of  the  original  twen- 
ty-seven counties  of  the  State  of  California. 
"Tuolumne"  is  a  corruption  of  the  Indian 
word  "talmalamne,"  which  signifies  "  stone 
houses  or  caves,"  the  same  as  the  word 
" Shasta,"  but  in  another  language.  This  was 
the  name  of  a  large  tribe  of  Indians  who  lived 
on  both  sides  of  the  river  now  bearing  that 
name,  from  which  the  county  derived  its  patro- 
nymic. 

Ventura  County.— Created  March  22,  1872. 
On  March  30,  1782,  Padres  Junipero  Serra  and 
Cambon  dedicated  a  mission  at  San  Buenaven- 
tura to  San  Buenaventura,  Doctor  Serafico  (St. 
Bonaventura,  Serafic  Doctor),  which  is  the  name 
under  which  Giovani  de  Fidanza  of  Tuscany 
was  canonized.  Buenaventura  is  composed  of 
two  Spanish  words,  "Buena"  meaning  "good," 


90  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

and  "Ventura"  meaning  "fortune";  hence  the 
name  signifies  "good  fortune."  The  county 
took  its  name  from  the  latter  Spanish  word 
"Ventura."  San  Buenaventura  has  at  all  times 
been  the  name  of  the  town,  but  this  beautiful 
and  euphonious  name  has  been  abbreviated  by 
the  United  States  Post  Office  Department  to 
"Ventura." 

Yolo  County.— Created  February  18,  1850. 
This  is  one  of  the  original  twenty-seven  coun- 
ties of  the  State  of  California.  "Yolo"  is  a 
corruption  of  an  Indian  tribal  name  "Yo-loy," 
meaning  "a  place  thick  with  rushes."  This 
tribe  was  a  branch  of  the  Suisunes,  and  in- 
habited the  marshes  immediately  west  of  Rio  de 
Jesus  Maria  (now  known  as  the  Sacramento 
River) . 

Tuba  County. — Created  February  18,  1850. 
This  is  one  of  the  original  twenty-seven  coun- 
ties of  the  State  of  California.  "Yuba"  is  a 
corruption  of  the  Spanish  word  signifying  "wild 
grape."  A  Spanish  exploring  expedition  in 
1824  found  immense  quantities  of  vines  shad- 
ing the  banks  of  a  river,  which  is  the  chief 
tributary  of  the  Feather  River.  These  vines 
were  heavily  laden  with  wild  grapes  (called 
Uvas  silvestres  in  Spanish),  and  the  river  was 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  91 

therefore  called  the  Uva  or  Uba,  and  by  a  cor- 
ruption of  the  word  "Uba"  the  river  eventually 
became  known  by  its  present  name,  "Yuba," 
from  which  the  county  derived  its  name. 


Attention  Calif ornians! 


This  being  a  work  of  a  constructive  and 
of  a  preservative  nature,  it  could  hardly  be 
deemed  complete  without  an  appeal  to  all  true 
Californians  and  to  those  Societies  which  have 
been  organized  for  the  preservation  of  the  old 
landmarks  and  Spanish  names  of  California. 

There  is  a  power  at  work  that  is  constant- 
ly changing,  ruining  and  emasculating  the 
romance  and  beauty  of  our  glorious  state  by 
changing  and  abbreviating  the  names  given  to 
historic  places  by  the  old  Padres. 

That  power  is  the  Postal  Department  and 
the  Railroad  Companies! 

There  are  numberless  instances  on  record 
where  the  old  original/  and  romantic  names 
have  been  either  changed  or  abbreviated,  but 
absolutely  ruined  in  all  cases,  by  these  un- 
patriotic and  unthinking  people. 

In  Southern  California  one  instance  stands 
out  more  glaringly  and  prominently  than  others, 
namely,  the  changing  of  the  name  of  San  Bu- 
enaventura by  the  Postal  authorities  to  that  of 


94  DICTIONARY  OF  SPANISH-NAMED 

Ventura!  Doubtless  the  "  pay-rollers"  of 
Uncle  Sam  are  too  busy  to  waste  time  writ- 
ing such  long  names,  but  their  fat  salaries  go 
on  just  the  same,  whether  they  write  long  or 
short  names.  If  in  their  blissful  ignorance  they 
know  not  what  they  do,  it  is  high  time  that 
the  Government  imposed  a  more  thorough  edu- 
cational and  historical  test  to  applicants  for 
positions  in  its  offices  or  for  appointees  whose 
authority  may  (mis)  lead  them  to  deflower  our 
beautiful  California. 

Since  California  has  become  a  wonder,  and 
one  of  the  world's  acknowledged  show  places, 
and  thereby  a  source  of  great  revenue  to  the 
Railroad  corporations,  why  are  these  concerns 
permitted  to  "bite  the  hands  that  feed  them," 
when  they  alter  or  change  the  old  names?  Not 
long  ago  in  Central  California  the  romantic 
name  of  "Paloma,"  was  changed  to  "Dove" 
by  the  railroad  people,  and  a  little  later,  a 
name  no  less  romantic  and  interesting  was  un- 
ceremoniously changed  from  "Pajaro,"  mean- 
ing bird  in  the  Spanish  language,  to  that  of 
ignominious  "Watsonville  Junction!" 

Who  authorized  these  changes?  "Who  are 
these  pilferers  of  beauty  and  romantic  dignity 
that  they  should  be  permitted  to  carry  on  this 


CALIFORNIA  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  95 

devastation  without  a  voice  to  say  them  not 

That  cases  cited  are  not  the  only  ones  on 
record,  but  are  here  shown  to  emphasize 
the  enormity  of  the  crime — for  that  is  just 
what  it  is — it  is  a  flagrant  crime  against  the 
people  of  the  State  of  California,  and  the  crimi- 
nals should  be  dealt  with  accordingly. 
What  are  you  going  to  do  about  it? 

THE  AUTHOR. 


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